GOV.-ELECT Tom Wolf yesterday tapped former Philadelphia School District administrator Pedro Rivera as the state’s next education secretary, a move that advocates hope will help the city’s beleaguered public schools.
Rivera, superintendent of the 11,500-student School District of Lancaster, brings a diverse education background to the position. As the superintendent in Lancaster since 2008, Rivera has overseen a district in which 17 percent of students are learning English, graduation rates and assessment scores have steadily improved and the fund balance has more than doubled.
In September, Rivera was recognized at the White House as one of 10 Hispanic leaders around the country.
Rivera, a native of Philadelphia, spent 13 years in Philly’s public schools in various roles, including principal, assistant principal, classroom teacher and human-resources director.
“My top priority is making sure our schools have the resources to teach our children the skills they need to succeed,” Wolf said in a news release. “Pedro Rivera is nationally recognized for his efforts to improve urban education, and he will work with me to build a strong public-education system and get Pennsylvania back on track.”
Rivera takes over the Department of Education at a time when districts are dealing with soaring pension costs and concerns about the Keystone Exams. The Basic Education Funding Commission is working to craft a new fair-funding formula for K-12 education, which is expected to be delivered to Wolf in June.
Wolf’s predecessor, Gov. Corbett, was blamed for slashing $1 billion in education spending, which particularly hurt urban districts like Philadelphia, where budget cuts led to a reduction in guidance counselors, nurses and other basic resources.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan applauded the appointment, citing Rivera’s experience working in urban schools.
“Because his career has taken him from teacher to principal, to superintendent of an entire school district, Rivera understands better than most how teacher unions and administrators should work together to improve public education,” Jordan said in a statement.
Rivera could play a significant role in the PFT’s current legal battle against the School Reform Commission in Commonwealth Court regarding the SRC’s decision to cancel the teachers’ contract and administer health-care benefits. The Corbett administration filed a brief in support of the district, which could be withdrawn by Wolf.
Donna Cooper, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, said Rivera is a strong choice for the post due to his experience working around the state.
“It offers somebody that the legislators can talk to that has experience outside of Philly, from the center of the state,” said Cooper, “that can say [funding] isn’t a Philly problem, this is a statewide problem.”
The Philadelphia Daily News – January 20, 2015 – Read article online