Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson Will Search For New Education Chief

Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson plans for current Arkansas Education Commissioner Tony Wood to remain in that post “for some time,” but will look to hire someone else over the longer term, Hutchinson said Friday morning.

Hutchinson was asked while addressing the Arkansas School Boards Association whether he would appoint a commissioner with an education background, such as a superintendent.

In response, he said of Wood, “I think he’s really been a great team player. He’s been an encourager to me and a good resource for me during the transition, and we’ve had a good conversation, and I expect him to stay there for some time. We’re going to work through that. Obviously, at some point, I will want to bring in someone to take a fresh look at things, and so that’s a compliment to Tony Wood and his partnership with us.”

Hutchinson continued by saying, “In terms of the future, I want to have somebody that has the experience in Arkansas. I don’t want to bring somebody in that we need to educate them on what Lake View is all about. And obviously when you look at experts in education in Arkansas, you look at the superintendents that are there, the retired superintendents, the people who have experience in being in the classroom, being in our schools, and so that’s the type of experience I think is important for a commissioner.”

Asked afterwards by reporters how long Wood would remain in that position, Hutchinson said it was “Undetermined. I’m going to meet with him today, and we’ll work through it.” He said there would “probably not” be an announcement today.

“I’ve talked to him, and we certainly need him in the transition,” he said. “At some point I’ll be bringing in a new commissioner, but there’s no time frame set on that.”

Kim Friedman, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Education, said, “Mr. Wood looks forward to meeting with Gov.-elect Hutchinson.”

Hutchinson said he will appoint a commissioner whose priorities will include reviewing the Common Core State Standards, expanding broadband access, and fulfilling his campaign pledge to offer computer science as a graduation credit at all high schools.

Hutchinson spoke about that last priority Thursday before the Arkansas STEM Coalition – STEM being the acronym for “science, technology, engineering, math.” He told school board members that he was “startled” when members of the audience told him no more than 20 Arkansas teachers are prepared to teach the kind of class he is proposing. He told school board members his budget will include funding for incentives for teachers to train to teach such a class.