Bill Ayers is an American educator and activist known for his involvement in the Weather Underground Organization, a radical group that emerged in the 1960s. The group aimed to promote social change through direct action and was known for its opposition to the Vietnam War. Ayers became a controversial figure due to his past activities, including bombings aimed at government buildings. Later in his career, Ayers shifted focus to education, becoming a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has written extensively on education reform and social justice, advocating for progressive teaching methods and critical pedagogy. His work continues to influence discussions on education in the United States.