A Look At Mark McQuillan's Years As Education Commissioner
News Of His Resignation Is A Surprise
Connecticut Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan has submitted his letter of resignation. WNPR's Diane Orson looks back on his years as head of the state’s public schools.
News that Connecticut’s top education leader planned to resign came as a surprise. "Until yesterday I thought Mr. McQuillan would be available for service for some period of time". Governor-elect Dan Malloy. "We’ll turn some more attention to it. But I’ve made it very clear that I am not in a rush to fill jobs by January 5th"
That’s the day Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan plans to leave his post.. McQuillan came to the state in 2007, and carried a consistent message to educators, says Dr. Joseph Cirsuolo, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. "He was able to effectively deliver the message we really need to change what we do because now we are expected to have every child achieve to relatively high standards"
McQuillan focused state attention on early childhood education and on improving the high school experience. Patrice McCarthy is general counsel for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. "He was instrumental in working with the legislature to adopt a significant piece of legislation."
The new law increases the number of required credits for graduation, puts greater emphasis to math, science and world languages, and requires every student to complete a final senior project.
McQuillan also included parents in new ways says Marne Usher, president of the state’s Parent Teacher Student organization. "We had a parent representative on the task force that was charged with looking at high school reform. Somebody who was specifically just representing parents"
But huge challenges face the next Commissioner. Connecticut continues to struggle with the nation’s widest achievement gap. School funding is under intense scrutiny…and federal education stimulus dollars run out next June.
An acting education commissioner will take over in January. Once a candidate is selected, the State Board of Ed will recommend the person to the governor who nominates the candidate for ratification by the legislature.
For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.
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