STATE HOUSE
State education commissioner stepping down
Susan Gendron, in office since 2003, has had to deal with several difficult and controversial changes for Maine's school systems
By Matthew Stone mstone@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- Susan Gendron, who has overseen school district consolidation, a new standardized test's introduction and the expansion of Maine's student laptop initiative, said Wednesday she is resigning as education commissioner.
Education Commissioner Susan Gendron speaks during a conference Tuesday in Augusta. Gendron is leaving the Department to become policy director for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, a group of more than 35 states working to develop common assessments, and to compete for a share of $350 million in federal Race to the Top education reform funds.
Staff photo by Joe Phelan
Related headlines
Gendron, commissioner since March 2003, will leave her job at month's end to become policy director for a 35-state group -- the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium -- which is competing for $350 million in federal money to develop a set of common standardized tests.
She was previously superintendent of schools in Windham.
"I've been privileged to be your commissioner," Gendron told a group of superintendents, school board members and teachers' union representatives during a meeting Wednesday. "I've had an incredible experience."
The Department of Education's deputy commissioner, Angela Faherty, will take over as acting commissioner. Faherty had worked with Gendron as Windham's assistant superintendent and was previously the special education director in Portland schools.
Gendron is leaving the education department at a busy time, as state education officials prepare Maine's application for Race to the Top, a national competition among the states for billions aimed at education reform. Maine could be eligible for up to $75 million if its application -- which will include a proposal to participate in the SMARTER consortium -- is successful.
In her time as education commissioner, Gendron has undertaken a number of major initiatives aimed at reining in school system spending and introducing key reforms to the state's education system. The changes she's touted have often run into resistance in the state Legislature and school districts.
The school district consolidation plan Gendron oversaw intended to merge Maine's 290 school districts into 80 regional units to cut school administrative costs. But opposition to the plan in much of rural Maine thwarted dozens of school district mergers, leaving the state with 215 school districts currently.
Some 95 districts will likely face penalties starting July 1 for voting against mandated mergers.
Last year, Gendron attempted to expand the Maine Learning Technology Initiative -- the program that's equipped seventh- and eighth-grade students with laptops -- to the high school grades.
But legislators and school districts didn't all support it, saying the cost of leasing Apple MacBooks for all high school students was too steep. More than half of high schools ultimately opted into the plan, while other schools pursued cheaper alternatives or opted out of the program entirely.
Gendron last year also pushed lawmakers to adopt a new set of high school graduation requirements to allow students more choice in deciding what they study in high school. The plan also would have shifted Maine toward a standards-based education system, which advances students when they've mastered course materials, rather than when they've spent a year in the classroom.
Legislators pared down the plan to one that allows students more choice in how they satisfy school requirements.
James Morse, the superintendent of Portland's public schools, called Gendron's resignation "a major loss to the state of Maine."
"She had a very strong vision of where she wanted to take education in the last eight years, and she worked very hard to implement that vision," he said. "This is a commissioner who never caved."
While lawmakers didn't sign onto all of her priorities, the reforms Gendron pushed have helped Maine better line up with the Obama administration's education agenda, said Rep. Patricia Sutherland, D-Chapman, the House chairman of the Legislature's Education Committee.
"It was due to her persistence that we find ourselves eligible to apply for Race to the Top and in a posture to meet the federal guidelines coming down the road in terms of funding," Sutherland said.
Gendron has overseen Maine's education department during "a very difficult seven years in education," said Chris Galgay, president of the Maine Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union.
During that time, though, Gendron has involved the union in the decision-making process, Galgay said.
"We meet with her regularly," he said. "I don't think you can ask for much more than that."
Recently, Gendron has earned a prominent national role in the education world.
She was one of 10 state education commissioners who made recommendations for President Barack Obama's education secretary in the weeks following Obama's 2008 election.
Gendron is currently president of the Council of Chief State School Officers, a nationwide network of state education commissioners. In that position, she's played a national role in education policy.
Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, ext. 435
mstone@centralmaine.coma
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Most...
Copyright ©2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
11 COMMENTS
cranky-yank said...
Great, she pushes through LD1799 and then runs away so she won't have to deal with the fallout and devastation it will cause. Definitely not a leader.
April 15, 2010 at 5:10 AM Report abuse
cranky-yank said...
Now lets see if I've got this right. Sue Gendron pushes to have legislation passed that requires yet even more standardized testing in Maine's schools. When that legislation is passed she retires and goes to work for a nationwide consortium where she'll work from home writing what?........Wait for it........STANDARDIZED TESTS.
April 15, 2010 at 5:22 AM Report abuse
Dilli_Gaf said...
Obama cronnie, what else did you expect
April 15, 2010 at 6:21 AM Report abuse
Rush2Judge said...
She came into a difficult job, made more difficult as the economy tanked. Faced with increasing per student costs, particularly in rural areas, and citizens who did not want to pay, she developed cost savings measures. You can't win in that setting and in two years no one stepped up with a better idea. I guess she really believes in standardized testing. She develops legislation to hold schools accountable for their work and then changes jobs to do her part to make sure the tests are good ones. The other way to look at it Cranky.
April 15, 2010 at 6:45 AM Report abuse
dGltZTRjaGFuZ2U%3D said...
YEAH-maybe finally Connie Brown will get her dream job! and Augusta will have a super who will make positive change instead of personal agenda
April 15, 2010 at 7:24 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
Another reason why these friggin democRATS need to be run out of Maine! Her boss, head spaghetti server baldi(and chief protector) will be soon departing the Blaine House. Having cleaned every last shekel for the UNIONS that she could from Maine's long suffering taxpayers, now she's off to put the finishing feathers on her personal nest egg prior to retirement. What's that saying about RATS and SHIPS? NEVER...EVER...ELECT,TRUST OR BELIVE A DEMOCRAT, LIBERAL OR PROGRESSIVE!
April 15, 2010 at 7:28 AM Report abuse
maineilove said...
Susan Gendron stepping down is the best thing that ever happened to education in the State of Maine. What would be even better is if she took her little spokesperson, David Connerty-Martin with her. How many millions did her wishy-washy "learning results" cost our State? She did not, as someone said, establish a Maine assessment test - we already had the MEA's (that assessed almost every discipline), when she came into office. Gendron then threw out those and brought in the dumbest and most expensive assessment test in the country - the SAT - which only assesses a few disciplines - (Maine is still the only state pathetic enough in the whole U.S. that uses this high level college exam as an assessment test). Most people, I know, hope Gendron goes so quickly the door doesn't even hit her on the way out - but on a sad note, you certainly do have to feel very sorry for any other state that will have any contact or connection with Gendron in her new job!
April 15, 2010 at 10:12 AM Report abuse
None said...
Great article Matt. And Maine has come forward though often not withoput a lot of blustering, bleating and bloohing under Baldacci and Gendrobn--Too many Mainers are doped up on themselves/selfish (not generous with their time and money/policy that would make a difference) they don't like change and I suspect are unaward of certain long range vision which the commissioner and governor have had and are afraid of being intellectually challenged I suspect to a great extent, eh? So the gains made have been significant but not enough and the legislature and the voters are at risk here which makes kids/youth and thinking educators/citizens vulnerable to the norm/or below the norm type of enquiry and progress we need in Maine, especially in educaition.
April 15, 2010 at 10:21 AM Report abuse
springlover said...
Susan Gendron showed her full colors when High School students who were looking to broaden their educational aspirations, by eliminating funding for High School exchange students. This life changing life long experience was lost for many. I dont see where she has made much of an impact at all during her time. Just ask the question.. Is Maine better education better today than it was when she come on board? Hopefully Connie will also exit and Augusta will be a better place.
April 15, 2010 at 10:31 AM Report abuse
Jeff19 said...
ProConserv, I didn't know Bush was a Democrat! Wasn't it Bush who turned a surplus into the greatest deficit in the nations history? Yup. It WAS! But let's not let the truth get in the way of a good tall-tale. BTW....it was BUSH who got the country into the educational mess that its in. One of the biggest reasons he was elected, was that he PROMISED the taxpayers that the FEDS would FULLY FUND NCLB. Funny thing happened after he said that....the 800 billion price tag for NCLB was then FULLY PASSED onto the taxpayers of each state. And somehow, you folks give him a free pass.
April 15, 2010 at 12:48 PM Report abuse
Jeff19 said...
springlover, You shouldn't make things up. MANY districts in Maine have exchange programs. Gendron did NOT eliminate funding for such programs. Thats a flat out LIE!
April 15, 2010 at 12:50 PM Report abuse