Katy Anthes, who won the respect of educators, advocates and lawmakers during the past seven months as Colorado’s interim education commissioner, was appointed Wednesday to the position on a permanent basis by the State Board of Education.
Anthes, 42, was named interim commissioner in May after then-Commissioner Rich Crandall abruptly resigned after only four months on the job.
Her appointment at the time was seen as a move by the state board to stabilize the state education department amid high-profile resignations and turnover.
“It’s no surprise to me that she has proven to be especially talented in areas that are very much needed in this role,” Steve Durham, the state board’s chairman, said in a statement. “My fellow board members as well as district leaders, educators, legislators and others across the state have all been impressed with her ability to build bridges and find productive middle ground in solving tough problems.”
Anthes, who previously served as the education department’s chief of staff, has a reputation for being a consensus-builder in a field known for sharp differences on policy.
“I’m honored and humbled by the trust placed in me today, and I will aim to serve as a model for the type of leadership we need across our state and country,” she said in a statement. “I think it is critically important that we listen to each other, respect diverse perspectives and look for solutions that will work.”
Anthes’s appointment comes on the eve of what is shaping up to be a very busy year for the department. On the agenda: writing a federally required plan that details how the state plans to adjust to the nation’s new education laws, assisting the state board with deciding on sanctions for Colorado’s lowest-performing schools and a review of academic standards.
Anthes previously served as the department’s chief of staff. She first joined the department in 2011 to oversee the state’s rollout of a landmark teacher evaluation law.
Anthes holds a Ph.D. in public policy and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Colorado Denver. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Oregon.
Her salary as commissioner will be $255,000.
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
