For Immediate Release

Regents appoint new education commissioner

Jul 27, 2009 5:07 PM

The New York State Board of Regents appointed David Steiner, head of Hunter College’s School of Education, as the new state education commissioner. Commissioner Steiner will replace Richard Mills, who retired last month after holding the post for 14 years. Most recently, Commissioner Steiner has been the dean at Hunter since 2005 and the director of arts education at the National Endowment for the Arts.

UFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in response:

We are pleased that the Board of Regents has selected David Steiner as New York State Commissioner of Education. With our schools facing budget cuts it is more important than ever to have another partner in Albany, which we feel we have in Commissioner Steiner.

In his current position, Commissioner Steiner has shown enthusiasm and devotion to education, schools and students. He has led Hunter College’s School of Education in providing support for innovative teacher induction programs, such as the Urban Teacher Residency program. We look forward to working with him, especially in these tough economic times where the priority is protecting the education of our children.