Former Interim Commissioner

Appointed As New Education Deputy

George A. Coleman of Sandy Hook was appointed deputy commissioner of the State Department of Education on May 2, per a recommendation to the State Board of Education for vote. State Education Commissioner Mark K. McQuillan had recommended the appointment.

“This is clearly the decision by the commissioner to recognize talent,” said department representative Tom Murphy.

Mr McQuillan said, “I look forward to working with George Coleman. He is an accomplished educator and leader. His experience and his counsel will be invaluable as we move forward to bring important changes to our department and to our state’s education system.”

Mr Coleman, who has worked in the agency for more than 20 years, served as interim state education commissioner from August 14, 2006, until Commissioner McQuillan took office April 16.

“He had served for nine months, that’s a long time as interim,” Mr Murphy said. He explained that when new Commissioner McQuillan first entered the office, he worked closely with Mr Coleman. “It was clear there was strong, favorable opinion of his work and abilities and the commissioner recognized it as a resource.” They will be working together closely, he said.

“It looks like it will be a good team,” Mr Murphy said.

Mr Coleman, who has served as associate commissioner of the Division of Teaching and Learning Programs and Services since 1998, joined the State Department of Education in 1987 as an education consultant in kindergarten and the primary grades. He served as chief of the Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction and of the Bureau of Early Childhood Education and Social Services before becoming associate commissioner.

Mr Coleman earned a bachelor of science degree in history from Tuskegee Institute. He also earned graduate degrees in both early childhood education and curriculum and instruction from Teacher’s College at Columbia University. He has taught courses in early childhood education and history at Tufts University, Western Connecticut State University, and the University of New Haven.

He has authored a number of publications including, A Guide to Program Development for Kindergarten, Parts I and II; The Teacher’s Ongoing Role in Creating a Developmentally Appropriate Early Childhood Program: A Self-Study Process for Teachers of Children Ages 5–8; A Guide to Curriculum Development: Health and Safety; and The Preschool Difference and Opening the Kindergarten Door.

Mr Coleman serves on many professional and community boards and councils, including the state and local United Way, the Connecticut State Birth-to-Three Council, Connecticut Commission on Children, and Junior Achievement. He also chairs the Board of Directors of The Hord Foundation, based in Danbury.

The commissioner pointed out that Mr Coleman will be instrumental in the reorganization of the state education department and will take on new responsibilities to implement school and district accountability systems, including new activities focused on the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. The reorganization will be presented to the State Board of Education for approval before July 1.

 “George Coleman served with distinction as our state’s interim education commissioner for nearly nine months. His skills and experience will strengthen our agency’s ability to implement new initiatives that respond to the demands of NCLB and to engage with school districts in improving student achievement and school and district accountability,” the commissioner said.

“I would regard it as a tremendous honor to be named deputy commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education. The privilege of being part of a state leadership team led by Dr McQuillan, that will establish the public school system as the anchor for the tremendous opportunities that make Connecticut the preferred state to develop business and to raise families in — is as exciting as it will be challenging,” said Mr Coleman.

Mr Coleman and his wife, Carrie, have a daughter, Olga Coleman Williams, and  three grandsons.