Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley will step down subsequent month, DESE introduced — a transfer that follows six years of working via the “transformational period” of the pandemic and restoration with contrasting opinions from public officers, lecturers unions, and native districts.
“After six years of service, I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to pass the baton,” Riley wrote in a resignation letter. “More broadly, as I reflected on major new initiatives such as the Literacy Launch, I realized the Commonwealth needs and deserves a Commissioner who can commit on an all-in basis for at least another five years, and I simply cannot do that.”
In 2018, Riley was appointed to serve by the state training Board and Secretary of Education underneath the Baker administration after 24 years working in Massachusetts faculties.
In his resignation letter, Riley mentioned his position as a son to getting old dad and mom won’t enable him sufficient time to decide to the job, however he intend to proceed to be the “biggest advocate on behalf of our students.”
The outgoing commissioner cited gratitude for a number of accomplishments, together with new complete well being and bodily training curriculum framework, educator diversification and the up to date procedures for particular training plans.
Riley introduced he’ll step down from the position on March 15, however stay as an advisor via the top of the college 12 months. He will suggest Deputy Commissioner Russell Johnston to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to function the Acting Commissioner.
In a launch, state officers together with Gov. Maura Healey and the Secretary of Education praised Riley’s success and work via the “unprecedented challenges” of and restoration from COVID-19 pandemic, advocacy for common college meals, growth of the Early College program, development of Deeper Learning curriculum and extra.
“During an historic time of pandemic, societal and educational disruption, Commissioner Riley led the Commonwealth’s schools by prioritizing the urgent need to return children to in-school learning,” mentioned BESE Chair Katherine Craven, itemizing accomplishments. … “Massachusetts students will enjoy the benefits of his work for years to come.”
Massachusetts and Boston lecturers unions have been typically crucial of Riley and the division via the commissioner’s tenure, issuing a number of blasts in the course of the pandemic together with an early statewide vote of no confidence and pushback on a menace to freeze federal BPS funding.
“Commissioner Riley, one of our longest-tenured State Education Chiefs, has cemented that reputation with his work on Deeper Learning and an innovative science assessment,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, calling the state a pacesetter in training. “I consider him a great colleague and thank him for his service to public education.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”