The Domino Effect: David Steiner, NYS Commissioner of Education, Announces His Resignation The Same Day As Cathie Black Says She's Gone

April 8, 2011
Ah, the domino effect! Howard [Wolfson] are you running for cover?

What I see is this: the total failure of the Bloomberg political machine. Mike, why not get out while you can? I actually believe it's too late for your saving any part of your agenda, and anyone who aligns with you will be embarrassed for doing so.

By the way, Madoff is talking.......

Betsy Combier

David Steiner to resign as education chief
Cara Matthews
Gannett Albany Bureau
LINK

ALBANY — David Steiner, the state's education commissioner, announced his resignation Thursday after less than two years in the job.

The news came the same day that New York City Schools Chancellor Cathleen Black abruptly resigned, and as the state Board of Regents is working in earnest on a policy to reform the way teachers and principals are evaluated.

Steiner, considered a national leader in education reform, said in a statement Thursday that he intends to leave the $250,000-a-year post later this year. He has informed the Board of Regents, which he reports to, and he pledged to work with Regents to "plan for a seamless transition."

"As the end of the school year and the legislative session approaches, I am immensely proud of the reforms we've achieved — guiding New York's successful Race to the Top application, designing a new teacher and school leader evaluation system, reforming teacher preparation and certification and implementing a tough re-setting of our 3-8 tests," he said in a statement.

The Board of Regents appointed Steiner in the summer of 2009 as the state's 13th education commissioner. He started Oct. 1 that year.

Steiner drew fire last November when he approved a waiver that allowed Black to become chancellor of New York City schools, even though the publishing executive didn't have any experience or credentials as an educator. Black has had a rocky tenure, culminating in an approval rating of just 17 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

Steiner told the Associated Press that the resignations were unrelated and it was just a coincidence they were announced on the same day.

Regents Chancellor Merry Tisch said Thursday that the Regents would "begin an orderly transition" in the coming weeks and continue pursuing its reform agenda.

The Board of Regents has until July 1 to set up the new evaluation system for math and English teachers in grades 4 to 8 and their respective principals for the 2011-12 school year. The rest of the teachers and principals will start participating in the new evaluations in 2012-13.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants lawmakers to speed up the process so all teachers and principals will fall under the new system in 2011-12, but it is unclear whether the legislation will move forward.

CLMATTHE@Gannett.com