Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Board of Education today announced the start of its search for a new Secretary of Education. This exempt position is open to all state employees and external candidates. Those interested should apply by 5 pm on April 30, 2018. Secretary Rebecca Holcombe announced her resignation without offering a reason on March 27 and left her position April 1. She was first appointed by Governor Shumlin and re-appointed by Governor Scott. She had served since January 2014. In the mean time, Scott has appointed DeputySecretaryHeather Bouchey to run the agency.
The State Board stated it will consider only candidates who meet the statutory requirements stipulated by the General Assembly, as follows:
Candidates for the position of Secretary of Education “..shall have expertise in education management and policy and demonstrated leadership and management abilities.” (3 V.S.A. §2702(c))
Candidates who meet the statutory requirements will be evaluated by the State Board on the basis of preferred qualifications:
1. Knowledge of PreK-12 public educational policy and practice;
2. Familiarity with school governance structures and practices typical of Vermont or similar states;
3. Experience with executive and legislative entities in the public sector at the state and local levels and/or experience in private sector governance and leadership;
4. Knowledge of fiscal and tax policy and education-funding issues at the federal, state, and local levels;
5. Expertise in framing, communicating, and advancing public and/or business policy issues, options, strategies and tactics;
6. Diversity of educational experiences and background;
7. Experience driving organizational effectiveness and continuous improvement in large organizations; and
8. Effectiveness in communications, oral, written and in multiple media, with the public, with special constituencies and interest groups, with decision-makers, and with employees.
Read the full job description on the Vermont Agency of Education website.
Source: Agency of Education 4.16.2018