MaryEllen Elia
MaryEllen Elia is the former New York commissioner of education. She was appointed by the New York State Board of Regents to replace Acting Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin on May 24, 2015. She was the first woman to hold the permanent post of commissioner.[1]
Elia resigned on August 31, 2019, to take a job with a national firm.[2]
Biography
Elia was born and raised in western New York. After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees, she began her career in education as a social studies teacher in the Sweet Home school district in western New York. She worked as a New York public school teacher until 1986, when she moved to Florida. In Florida, she served in the Hillsborough County school district in a variety of positions before being appointed school superintendent in 2005. Elia remained in that post until 2015, when she was appointed the commissioner of education in New York.[1]
Education
- B.A., history, Daemen College
- M.Ed., SUNY Buffalo
- M.A., professional studies, SUNY Buffalo[1]
Political career
New York State Commissioner of Education (2015 - 2019)
Elia was appointed as the New York commissioner of education by the New York State Board of Regents in 2015, replacing Acting Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin.[1] She succeeded former Commissioner John King, who resigned in January of 2015 in order to join the United States Department of Education.[3]
Upon taking office, Elia said that she would listen to parents and educators across New York state and review common core standards.[4]
About the office
The New York Commissioner of Education is an appointed state executive position in the New York state government.
The commissioner serves as the chief administrative officer of the Department of Education and the president of the University of the State of New York.[5] The mission of the New York State Education Department is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all people in New York.[6]
Superintendent of Hillsborough County, Florida schools (2005-2015)
Elia served as Hillsborough County's superintendent of schools from 2005-2015. At Hillsborough, Elia implemented Common Core standards in the district. She also created financial incentives for teachers to accept difficult positions in struggling schools. Under her leadership, Hillsborough schools significantly improved in reading and math scores and doubled student enrollment in Advanced Placement courses.[1]
Appointments
2015
Elia was appointed as the New York commissioner of education by the New York State Board of Regents in 2015.[1] She was selected to become the permanent replacement for Dr. John King, who resigned in January of 2015 in order to join the United States Department of Education.[7]
Awards
Elia was named the 2015 Florida superintendent of the year for her service in Hillsborough County, Florida. She was also one of four finalists considered for the 2015 national superintendent of the year.[4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms MaryEllen Elia New York Education. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| New York | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
- Andrew Cuomo
- New York Commissioner of Education
- New York school districts
- New York Department of Education
External links
New York State Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 New York State Department of Education, MaryEllen Elia Appointed New Commissioner of the State Education Department," accessed May 24, 2015
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "New York State’s Education Commissioner to Resign," July 15, 2019
- ↑ Daily Politics, "NYS Education Commissioner John King stepping down, December 10, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 WBNG News, "New NYS Commissioner of Education to review common core standards," accessed August 6, 2015
- ↑ New York State Education Department, "Dr. Betty A. Rosa," accessed Jan. 31, 2021
- ↑ New York State Education Department, "About the New York State Education Department," accessed Jan. 31, 2021
- ↑ Daily Politics, "NYS Education Commissioner John King stepping down, December 10, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John King |
New York Commissioner of Education 2015 - 2019 |
Succeeded by Shannon Tahoe |
| ||||||||||||||
