Codey
adviser is named education commissioner
Saturday, September 10, 2005 •
BY JOHN MOONEY • Star-Ledger
Staff
Ending some uncertainty as to who will
lead the department, acting Gov. Richard Codey has named his
top schools adviser, Lucille Davy, to serve as state
education commissioner for the remainder of his
term.
Davy, 50, was brought in as former Gov.
Jim McGreevey's education counsel and stayed on when Codey
took office last year, continuing a behind-the-scenes
presence in the department.
"As commissioner, she will continue her
work to improve teacher quality, student achievement and
accountability in schools," Codey said in the announcement.
"Under her leadership, New Jersey's children will have the
best education possible."
Davy succeeds WiIliam Librera, who
resigned effective Wednesday to take a post at Rutgers
University. Davy will start Monday in the $141,000-a-year
post.
Librera's deputy, Richard Rosenberg,
served as acting commissioner. He had not been told whether
he would stay on in that job, raising speculation among
staff and others about who would be commissioner for the
next few months.
Davy is married to Human Services
Commissioner Jim Davy. They are believed to be the first
husband-and-wife cabinet members in New Jersey
history.
Likely to be in office only a few months,
Davy will nevertheless have several key issues to address,
including new testing in elementary and middle schools,
updated special education requirements and regulations for
districts falling under the Abbott v. Burke
rulings.
The state's school boards association
praised Davy's appointment.
"She has a firm understanding of
education issues and is an excellent choice to serve as New
Jersey's chief state school officer," said Edwina Lee, the
association's executive director.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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