Perry Names Robert Scott Education Commissioner

Texas Governor Rick Perry has named his former education policy adviser and interim Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott to the TEC position on a permanent basis as Scott promised to get the agency “back in order:”

Gov. Rick Perry tapped the lawyer and longtime policy adviser to lead the state education agency, giving him the permanent title after Mr. Scott’s four years of service as the No. 2 man and sometimes-interim head at the agency.

“Robert has the experience and dedication needed to raise the bar in classrooms and make sure students receive a top-notch education that prepares them for success in and out of school,” Mr. Perry said.

The appointment is to a term that expires in January 2011.

Mr. Scott becomes one of the state’s few education commissioners without a school or administration professional background. He has been education policy adviser to a congressman, a state senator and later Mr. Perry.

Teachers’ groups said that while they have opposed some policies implemented during his tenure – such as merit pay for teachers instead of across-the-board pay raises – Mr. Scott has worked well with them.

“He’s been willing to listen to the teachers’ perspective and make modifications as needed so that things could actually be implemented in a workable fashion,” said Jeri Stone, executive director of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.

Mr. Scott oversaw education policy for the governor beginning in 2001 before Mr. Perry made him interim Texas education commissioner in 2003. When Mr. Perry named Shirley Neeley to the full-time role, Mr. Scott became chief deputy, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency. Dr. Neeley left her position this summer after not being reappointed by the governor, and Mr. Scott again was named interim commissioner.

Teacher associations and some education groups have been hesitant to support Mr. Scott as full-time commissioner because of his close ties to Mr. Perry.

Only time will tell what kind of job Scott will do as permanent commissioner. The jury, clearly, is still out on that.

Bookmark It