For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Contact:Heidi Guarino 781-338-3106

Eight Semifinalists Selected in Search for Next Education Commissioner

BOSTON - The Board of Education selected eight semifinalists on Tuesday from a pool of 16 people who have submitted applications to become the state's next Commissioner of Education. Board members spent the day in executive session, sorting through resumes and reviewing the qualifications of applicants from within the Commonwealth and around the country. The semi-finalists will be interviewed over the next two weeks. "The review process is off to an excellent start," said Board of Education Chairman Paul Reville. "We have an exceptional batch of candidates and I'm confident that from this pool we will find an outstanding permanent Commissioner." The position has been advertised nationally since late October, and applications were accepted until November 30. The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), the state's search consultant, also distributed the job listing to all Massachusetts superintendents and all urban districts around the country. Tuesday's meeting was the first of three scheduled to narrow the pool and ultimately select and vote on the next Commissioner. The Board will meet again in executive session on December 13 and the afternoon of December 18 to interview semifinalists, and select finalists. The names of the finalists will be made public once they are contacted. Public interviews with the finalists will be held at the Omni Parker House on January 7. Reville said he is hopeful that the Board will be able to vote to name the new Commissioner by the end of January. Driscoll retired on August 31, after 43 years in public education, including eight years as Commissioner. In the interim, Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus stepped in as Acting Commissioner on September 1 and will remain in the position until a permanent candidate is selected.



Last Updated: December 5, 2007



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