american educator secretary education position held 1980s 1990s worked pennsylvania public school districts number positions including teacher football coach principal federal programs director strategic planning coordinator personnel director worked superintendent chosen deputy secretary state governor appointed secretary education tenure secretary implemented state funding pre day developed new school funding formula helped increase education funding school districts established state announced leave secretary education position coinciding pending departure governorship april selected superintendent pennsylvania vowed establish regular updates families students education improve safety schools implement incentives attract qualified minorities education students teaching positions early career native pennsylvania received bachelor degree master pennsylvania master education degree received doctorate education wrote doctoral state policy making began educational career pennsylvania spent years elementary school teacher middle school reading language arts coached varsity high school football taught started working school district years district worked elementary secondary principal federal programs director returned principal strategic planning coordinator previously served elected member city deputy major president returned federal programs personnel director promoted superintendent position held years tenure superintendent implemented day pre programs pursued high school reform hired reading math coaches boost student learning early state career march pennsylvania secretary education hired deputy secretary oversaw education million children public school children state helped implement release pennsylvania led development implementation support systems public schools trying meet child left targets making yearly salary served acting education secretary august phillips left position september hired barnes administration governor encouraged local pennsylvania school boards participate act state property tax relief program act proceeds slot machine gambling finance property tax cuts included spending restrictions exchange tax cuts barnes support program school boards rejected spending restrictions voiced support act helped lobby local school districts support increased visibility statewide claimed act includes real property tax relief shifts responsibility school funding state barnes resigned september tapped serve acting secretary widely considered qualified candidate permanent position governor engaged thorough search potential candidates state secretary education appointed state secretary education october governor following resignation secretary considered highly regarded democratic republican involved education issues confirmation hearing december said supported state million provides tax breaks businesses support public education programs private school scholarships said believed basic education state primary fiscal educational investment special education higher education unanimously approved confirmation hearing december senate unanimously confirmed february steady supporter education proposals maintained independent voice administration claimed happen agree outcomes mix making policy decisions addition act supported proposal require struggling school districts improve math reading test scores order jobs idea embraced said supported requiring high school students pass exit exams graduate acknowledged implementing testing program long difficult effort time state required students demonstrate proficiency math reading graduate allowed local districts decide passing math reading tests alternative tests subjects said think real graduate student fundamentally standard level said students given alternative ways demonstrate ready college work force exams secretary implemented state funding pre day training easier ways transfer college credits school managed million math literacy coaching led development pennsylvania inspired leadership legislative initiative develop support educational leaders state unveiled new school funding formula decades set fair previous better meet specific needs individual school districts formula money districts large numbers children living poverty factors considered formula cost living district size enrollment growth students learning speak english formula originally called increasing pennsylvania education spending billion years starting additional million final budget passed state reduced expenditure million spearheaded establishment state created math science social studies tests high school students required pass majority order graduate measure met criticism felt plan expensive undermine local school boards authority set graduation requirements agreed support compromise schools tests final exams rigorous exams approved effect starting class established state created standardized set tests curriculum guides local school districts standards aligned components curriculum framework assessment systems best teaching practices emotional support practices proven research resources best accommodations children struggle years public school districts pennsylvania form december received honorary doctor laws degree making people receive distinction helped lead application federal funding race competitive grant program encourages innovation reform public education said plan drafted double number students meeting math reading proficiency targets school districts charter schools representing roughly students signed application brought state million pennsylvania included states receive money round race funds awarded delaware tennessee reform measures said feedback rejected application strengthen application second round announced resign education secretary decision leave spurred pending end administration governor leaving office january time departure public school districts state half students testing basic levels state standardized tests districts fit criterion took job post secretary career unanimously selected superintendent pennsylvania april year contract began july starting yearly salary 16th superintendent district serves students fourth largest public school district pennsylvania chosen potential candidates including deputy superintendent school district philadelphia regional superintendent position job sought considered leaving secretary education position said plans install system provide regular updates families academic performance children push improvement goals response recent student violence problems william allen high school identified priorities strengthening district code conduct citizenship programs announced seek replace retiring teachers highly skilled minority candidates create incentive programs lure students teaching positions agreed spend years teaching schools shortly announced middle schools failed meet standards proposed major overhaul effectively eliminate district middle schools change elementary schools eighth grade model august school board approved study district facilities look proposal alternative building fifth middle school reduce district middle school student population building morning said approved proposal biggest overhaul city educational landscape years october signed proposed year leadership curriculum plans pathways success board determine adopt october elements plan social supports help students transition grade level introduction students college information career choices early elementary school ensure understand options high school plan align programs district establish network provide students better access college courses push students advanced placement courses additionally plan require high pass mandatory internationally recognized exit exams graduate high school committee signed proposals remove exchange million federal grants mandate leadership staff changes condition receiving money proposed transferring allen high schools district nonprofit foundation use federal grant money open special school advanced placement honors students committee vote comment matter october said planned pursue plan apologized speaking media october discussing district staff caused angst staff members public march proposal district wide reform plan reform based primarily financial expectations district plan calls hiring new teachers time district payroll calls termination teachers staff members schools attend meeting order overhaul plan july school board approved budget saw professionals budget continued endorse pathways success program august resigned superintendent retained director strategic initiatives cost savings cited board reason resignation issues management style initiatives actions reported contributing mutually accepted resignation
Gerald Zahorchak