MaryEllen Elia, who displayed a readiness to work with teachers and their union during her 10 years as school superintendent in Hillsborough County, Florida, was the unanimous choice of the state Board of Regents on May 26 to become New York State education commissioner.

Elia, New York’s first female education commissioner, replaces John King, who left in December to take a job as a senior adviser to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Born and raised in western New York, Elia began her career as a high school social studies teacher near Buffalo in 1970 before moving to Florida in 1986 and becoming a reading teacher. She served in several administrative positions starting in 1989 in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa and is the country’s eighth largest school district, before becoming superintendent in 2005.

Elia was fired from that post by the school board in January in a 4-to-3 vote after the election of two new board members in November. She began her new job on July 6.

“Our folks down in Florida who have worked with her have said she was extremely open to making sure teachers felt respected and that their voice was always part of any debates,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said. “We hope to have a great relationship with her as we move forward.”

While superintendent in Hillsborough, Elia controlled a $3 billion budget and managed to avoid employee layoffs during a difficult financial period.

She worked with the Hillsborough County Teachers Association to put together a teacher evaluation system and program using a $100 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Florida state law mandated that student test scores be included in those teacher evaluations.

Elia will begin her new job at a critical time when New York State is in the midst, yet again, of overhauling its teacher evaluation system at the behest of Gov. Cuomo.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said that Elia “understands that you can only reclaim public education by giving educators the support they need to do their jobs well.”

Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said that Elia’s many years in the classroom make her a solid choice to lead the state’s school system.

“She has exhibited tremendous leadership with a record of results, particularly in meeting the unique needs of English language learners,” Fariña said. “She is a remarkable educator, and I am confident that her work will facilitate improved educational opportunities for children across New York City and New York State.”