Deputy Commissioner Rae Ann Knopf has been named as the first Executive Director for The Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER). She will be leaving her current post as the Deputy Commissioner of Education Transformation and Innovation for the Vermont Department of Education in mid-January.
Knopf has a broad range of experience in the field of education and has a proven track record of initiating successful education reform efforts throughout her career. As Deputy Commissioner, Knopf led a restructuring of the Vermont Department of Education and a redesign of the state’s system of standards and accountability with an eye toward closing achievement gaps and providing high-quality educational opportunities to all of the state’s students. She also fostered strong collaboration among the Vermont’s education stakeholders, which allowed Vermont to have a say in some of President Barack Obama’s recent national education reforms.
“Rae Ann’s strong leadership and vision truly moved Vermont forward,” said Commissioner Armando Vilaseca. “Her work took our department and Vermont’s education system to a place that allows for better and more access for all students to become successful. She will be greatly missed and we wish her all the best.”
CCER is a statewide non-profit focused on driving comprehensive education reform to narrow the achievement gap while improving educational outcomes for all of Connecticut’s students. CCER was born out of the 2010 Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement, which produced a comprehensive set of recommendations on how to close the state’s achievement gap. CCER brings the business and civic voice to education issues in Connecticut.
“Rae Ann Knopf is the perfect leader at the perfect time,” said Peyton R. Patterson, Chair of the CCER. “Her experience guiding teams in results-oriented education reform efforts will serve us extremely well. Rae Ann understands the reform issues we are focused on here in Connecticut and she is the right person to establish CCER as a leading voice in the education reform movement.”
“Taking the helm of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform is a tremendous opportunity, said Knopf. “The stars are aligned in Connecticut for true education reform and I’d like to thank The Council for letting me be a part of its work.”
Knopf was chosen after a nationwide search.
