BREAKING: Youngkin Taps Guidera for Virginia Secretary of Education

Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has begun rolling out his cabinet appointees with a new announcement Monday naming Aimee Rogstad Guidera to serve as the next Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

From the press release:

“Aimee will be a critical partner in restoring expectations of excellence; overseeing a record education budget to invest in teachers, facilities and special education; rolling out innovation lab and charter schools; and standing for a curriculum that prepares Virginia’s children for a dynamic future and removes politics from the classroom,” said Governor-elect Youngkin. “A nationally recognized leader, Aimee is deeply respected for her distinguished career advocating for innovation and choice, data-driven reform, and high standards, and will apply these principles in order to implement the Day One Game Plan. Most importantly, she understands that parents matter, and the best interests of students must come first. Her leadership, intellect, and talent will be tremendous assets as we ensure Virginia kids are the best prepared in the country to succeed, and that they are taught how to think, not what to think. She will help us recharge a system that has settled for too long.” 

Guidera’s background almost guarantees a national level focus on improvement in the quality of public education as opposed to the more traditional selection of state-level expertise which understands how Richmond operates.

Nonetheless, with Guidera’s national-level reputation and deep commitment to data-driven approaches to reform, if Guidera’s appointment is any indicator it suggests that Youngkin’s transition team will be looking for heavy-hitters coming from the outside to provide actual, substantive and measurable results.