Maryellen elia biography of williams
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After graduating high school from Stella Niagara in Lewiston, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Daemen College in Buffalo, a Master of Education from the University at Buffalo, and a Master of Professional Studies from SUNY Buffalo. Together we have placed an emphasis on educating the whole child and worked to achieve equity in education for all.
When her family moved to Florida in 1986, she became a reading teacher in the Hillsborough County school district. The district’s fourth and eighth grade students earned higher reading scores than all other 22 urban districts that participated in the 2103 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA), which is administered by National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) and is widely considered to the “gold standard” in assessment; Hillsborough students tied for second place in math.
She began her career in education as a social studies teacher in Buffalo’s Sweet Home Central School District and taught for 19 years before moving on to administrative positions.
MaryEllen’s experience as a highly-successful senior school administrator coupled with her deep personal commitment to make every student all they are capable of being, enables her to now provide great advice and leadership to school districts throughout the country.
State Regent Chancellor Betty Rosa issued the following statement on Elia's plans to resign:
“We thank Commissioner Elia for her tireless and unwavering service to New York State’s children.
She successfully implemented higher learning standards, partnered with teachers to develop a comprehensive evaluation system and earned national recognition for gains in student achievement. She is the 2015 Florida Superintendent of the Year and was one of four finalists for the 2015 National Superintendent of the Year award.
Ms. “During her time in Hillsborough, she led a successful introduction of the Common Core standards, increased graduation options for students who had fallen behind, and helped to develop one of the country’s most innovative teacher evaluation systems.
Since Dr. King’s departure, Executive Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin has served as the acting commissioner. Between 1989 and 2005, Ms. Elia held various administrative positions in the district, including General Director of Secondary Education and Chief Facilities Officer.
In her new role, Ms. Elia will serve as Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York (USNY).
Good teachers are also good listeners. USNY comprises more than 7,000 public and independent elementary and secondary schools; 270 public, independent and proprietary colleges and universities; 7,000 libraries; 900 museums; 25 public broadcasting facilities; 3,000 historical repositories; 436 proprietary schools; 52 professions encompassing more than 850,000 licensees plus 240,000 certified educators; and services for children and adults with disabilities.
The Board of Regents formed a search seven-member committee in January to find a replacement for former Commissioner King.
A native New Yorker, Ms. Elia has over 50 years of experience as an educator and was New York’s first female Education Commissioner.
Prior to her appointment in New York, Ms. Elia served for ten years as superintendent of schools in Hillsborough County, Florida. Hillsborough County Public Schools is an example of how all sides can find common ground and together can achieve real reform.”
“The search committee was very impressed by MaryEllen’s approach to finding common ground on challenging issues—an approach that helped make Hillsborough County public schools a national model for reform,” said Regents Vice Chancellor Anthony S.
Bottar, who chaired the search committee. Commissioner Elia has been steadfast in her commitment to placing the interests of students first. My first item of business as Commissioner will be listening to parents, teachers, principals, school board members, and superintendents from across New York.
Elia, 70, is a Lewiston native. Both U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten have praised the system for the extensive supports it provides for teachers and its pay structure that incentivizes teachers to take on more challenging positions.
Under Ms. Elia’s leadership, Hillsborough County public schools have also received national recognition for gains in student achievement.
Elia was born, raised, and attended school in Western New York. Elia’s colleagues in Florida and across the county have praised her for her work in Hillsborough County. Ms. Elia’s appointment comes after a nearly five-month search by the Board of Regents to replace former Commissioner John King, who left the Department at the end of 2014 to take a job with the U.S.
Department of Education. Ms. Elia has been honored for her work, both in Florida and on a national stage.