For Immediate Release
Friday, August 31, 2007
Contact:Heidi P. Guarino 781-338-3106

Scholarship Created To Honor Commissioner Driscoll's Commitment to Education

After 43 Years in Public Education, Driscoll Retires on August 31

MALDEN - A scholarship for high school seniors planning a future in teaching has been formed to honor retiring Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll's 43 years in public education. The David P. Driscoll Scholarship will be run jointly by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) and the Massachusetts Department of Education. Recipients will be selected annually by a committee of educators, Department of Education staff and a member of the Driscoll family. Interest from the fund will be used for the annual awards. "I have been privileged to spend my entire career working on behalf of the students of the Commonwealth, and proud to have my name connected to a scholarship that will help future teachers follow a similar path," Driscoll said. "I have long believed that teaching is one of the most noble professions and I hope that this scholarship will help lessen the financial burden enough to encourage young people to consider a career in the classroom." Driscoll is best known for his unwavering devotion to children, his credibility and effectiveness in working with educators, parents and political leaders, his insistence on fairness and equity and his commitment to holding all students - regardless of race, ethnicity or hometown - to high standards and expectations. "David has engineered monumental achievements for Commonwealth and its educators and children," said Board of Education Chairman Paul Reville. "The Board of Education is deeply grateful for David's vision, courageous leadership, steadfast commitment to children, his caring manner and warm sense of humor. We will sorely miss him." A former secondary school mathematics teacher, Driscoll was named Melrose Assistant Superintendent in 1972 and Superintendent of Melrose in 1984. He served in that role until 1993, when he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Education, just days after the state's Education Reform Act was signed into law. He became interim Commissioner in July of 1998, and was named Commissioner by the board of Education on March 10, 1999. As Commissioner, he oversaw the development of the state's curriculum frameworks, implementation and expansion of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), the development of the state's School and District Accountability System and the development and administration of the Educator Certification Test and new licensure regulations. These initiatives and others have led to consistent annual improvement in student achievement as measured by state standards (MCAS), national measures (NAEP, SAT and AP), and international tests (TIMMS). In 2005 Massachusetts was named the first state to ever earn the highest scaled score in the nation on all four NAEP exams in one year, a feat highlighted by national education leaders as extraordinary. "We are delighted to help run this scholarship fund in Commissioner Driscoll's honor," said MASS Executive Director Tom Scott. "David has devoted his lifetime to improving the quality of education for our children. This scholarship allows his legacy to continue by investing in future generations of teaching excellence." The award will be given to one or more members of the graduating class of any Massachusetts public high school who intends to pursue a career in education, whose academic performance is outstanding, whose participation in athletics, the arts, or civic life is characterized by exemplary contribution, superior work ethic, dedication and selflessness, and who is in need of financial aid for higher education. Donations to the fund are tax-deductible, and can be sent to: The David P. Driscoll Scholarship Fund
c/o Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
132 Lincoln Street, Suite 6L
Boston, MA 02111 Driscoll is retiring on August 31, after 43 years in the field, including eight as the state's Commissioner of Education. Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus will become Acting Commissioner on September 1. The National Association of State Boards of Education is working with the state to conduct a national search to find a permanent replacement.



Last Updated: August 31, 2007



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