Deputy Education Commissioner Russell Johnston, a long-serving state official specializing in particular training, was unanimously chosen Tuesday to quickly take the helm of the state’s Ok-12 training division when Commissioner Jeffrey Riley steps down in March.
“The Board needs to vote to recommend an Acting Commissioner to the Secretary of Education for appointment,” wrote Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) Chair Katherine Craven in a memo forward of a Tuesday morning assembly. “We are fortunate that Deputy Commissioner Russell Johnston is willing and able to serve in this role during the transition period.”
Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley introduced his resignation in a letter on Feb. 15, recommending Johnston to take over the place. Riley has served within the place for six years and can formally step down on March 15.
Commissioner candidates could also be chosen by a two-thirds majority BESE vote and authorised by the Secretary of Education. The Board unanimously voted for Johnston, and Secretary Patrick Tutwiler shortly authorised the decide on the Tuesday assembly.
Johnston will begin at an annual wage charge of $246,636.
Johnston began his profession as a particular training trainer, working in Newton for 5 years. He then headed the particular training division for Wellesley Public Schools and served because the district’s superintendent from 2010 to 2014. At the state degree, Johnston “oversees special education, instructional support, and a variety of initiatives to identify interventions and monitor
improvement” because the deputy commissioner, based on a DESE bio.
Riley referred to as Johnston a “man of great integrity” throughout his advice Tuesday.
The Board will focus on candidates to take over the commissioner place completely at their subsequent assembly on March 26.
Riley cited his private commitments as “son to aging parents” and his incapacity to dedicate time to new initiatives like Literacy Launch “on an all-in basis for at least another five years” in his resignation letter.
Throughout Riley’s last BESE assembly as commissioner, the Board and quite a few audio system congratulated and praised the commissioner. Despite the turbulent historical past between DESE and the union by means of Riley’s tenure, Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page stated forward of his public testimony, he was “never in doubt of your deep, lifelong commitment to our public schools.”
“Jeffrey Riley, in recognition and gratitude for your lifetime contribution to the students and educators of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including your dedicated, tireless, unwavering commitment to the educational community as the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education from 2018 to 2024 — thank you,” stated Craven, setting off laughter as she famous Riley was cringing subsequent to her.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”