For Immediate Release
Monday, August 9, 2004
Contact:Heidi B. Perlman 781-338-3106

Driscoll Named President of Council of Chief State School Officers

MALDEN - Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll will take over as president of the Council of Chief State School Officers this week, three months ahead of schedule. The outgoing president, Iowa Education Director Ted Stilwill, announced his resignation from his post last week to take advantage of an early retirement provision recently passed by the Iowa legislature. Driscoll was voted president-elect of the national organization last year, and was slated to take over for Stilwill in November. “It is always the highest compliment to be honored by your colleagues and I accept their support with a strong sense of purpose,” Driscoll said. “The next 15 months will be critical as we work together through the presidential election to fulfill the goals of No Child Left Behind and make the corrections and adaptations needed in such a sweeping and comprehensive nationwide initiative.” CCSSO Executive Director Tom Houlihan welcomed Commissioner Driscoll as president, lauding his leadership and experience. “Commissioner Driscoll is well respected for his passion for students, his strong stand in Massachusetts on high standards and his collaborative style in dealing with people of differing viewpoints,” he said. “We are delighted to have him lead CCSSO as president, especially during an election year and the months immediately following.” Throughout his tenure Driscoll will continue in his role as Commissioner in Massachusetts, conducting much of his CCSSO business either by phone or, when necessary, in Washington, D.C. Driscoll is the first Massachusetts commissioner to be named president of CCSSO since its start 76 years ago. He was appointed the state’s 22nd commissioner by the Board of Education in 1999. While in that role he has overseen the creation and implementation of the state’s MCAS exam and graduation requirement, as well as the development of the school and district accountability system. Under his leadership Massachusetts’ NCLB accountability system was one of the first five in the nation to be approved. CCSSO is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. For more information on the organization, look online at www.ccsso.org.



Last Updated: August 9, 2004



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