2 days ago
Ayotte nominates Caitlin Davis to be next education commissioner
A 15-year agency staffer is Gov. Kelly Ayotte's nominee to replace Frank Edelblut as the next commissioner of education.
Ayotte nominates new education agency chief
Caitlin Davis, a 15-year employee at the Department of Education, is Gov. Kelly Ayotte's choice to be the next commissioner of education. If confirmed by the Executive Council, she will replace Frank Edelblut who has served eight years in that post.
Caitlin Davis of Concord most recently has served as the director of education analytics and resources in the Department of Education.
'Our state has made incredible strides toward helping every student reach his or her full potential, and today, I am proud to announce Caitlin Davis as my choice to continue this progress as commissioner of education,' Ayotte said in a statement.
'Caitlin will ensure New Hampshire schools remain innovative and forward-thinking, support our fantastic teachers and public schools, and strive for the highest standards of academic achievement. Caitlin's collaborative, data-driven approach will help us continue delivering a best-in-class education for all of New Hampshire's students.'
Ayotte said in keeping with state law she will present her pick to the state Board of Education at its next meeting on Thursday.
The Executive Council must then confirm the nomination.
Last spring, Ayotte announced that she would not be naming Edelblut to a third, four-year term as head of the agency.
Former Republican Gov. Chris Sununu made Edelblut one of his first high-profile appointments after Edelblut had run for governor and barely lost to Sununu in the 2016 Republican primary.
Edelblut, state board chair endorse the pick
Edelblut said Davis has the right combination of leadership skills and personal relationship building that will make her a good commissioner.
'She recently oversaw the successful implementation of a new, statewide student information system, and she was instrumental in the adoption of iPlatform, an online data dashboard that highlights student assessment performance, enrollment, attendance and more,' Edelblut said. 'Caitlin is a respected peer within the state's education field and a pivotal member of our leadership team. We are proud to have this nomination from within our own pool of talented professionals.'
While commissioner, Edelblut led the campaign to create Education Freedom Accounts, an education choice option for parents to receive taxpayer funds to send their children to private, religious, alternative public or home school programs.
He also promoted career-ready education programs with dual enrollment programs at community colleges and spearheaded a rewrite of the state's academic standards.
As someone who home-schooled his own children, Edelbut was often a lightning rod for opposition from the state's education unions and many public school advocates.
Edelbut often said his top priority was serving students and not the educational bureaucracy.
During her tenure, Davis has overseen the department's Bureau of Assessment and Accountability, Bureau of Education Statistics, Bureau of Educational Opportunities, Bureau of School Finance and Bureau of Federal Compliance.
She said the agency's greatest strength is its talented staff and seeks to promote a culture of collaboration, transparency and shared problem-solving.
Board of Education Chairman Andrew Cline said Davis was a great choice.
'Caitlin's been a real asset for the department over the years and I'm very pleased that the governor has chosen to put the department in such capable hands,' Cline said.
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