Hassan taps Virginia Barry for 2nd term as N.H. education commissioner
Virginia Barry, Commissioner of Education.
Virginia Barry, Commissioner of Education.
Virginia Barry will be nominated today for a second term as the state’s commissioner of education, according to Gov. Maggie Hassan’s office.
Hassan, a Democrat, announced yesterday she plans to re-appoint Barry, who lives in Bridgewater, to head the state Department of Education. Barry has held the job since 2009, and her current term ends March 23.
The nomination requires confirmation by the five-member Executive Council. If confirmed, Barry’s new term would run until March 2017.
“Virginia Barry has demonstrated steadfast dedication to the children of New Hampshire, and leaders across the education community have praised her ability to bring people together to develop solutions for the challenges facing our schools,” Hassan said in a news release.
Barry holds a doctorate from Florida State University and was an elementary school teacher and principal before working at Plymouth State University as a professor and administrator, including a stint as acting president in 2003 and 2004.
Former governor John Lynch tapped her in 2009 to
replace Lyonel Tracy of Portsmouth, who served a single term as education commissioner.
“Serving as the New Hampshire commissioner of education is truly a great privilege, and I look forward to working with Gov. Hassan to provide our young people with the robust education they need for good, stable careers,” Barry said in a statement.
(Ben Leubsdorf can be reached at 369-3307 or
bleubsdorf@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @BenLeubsdorf.)
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