The following statement was released yesterday by several New York education activists and reformers praising the Regents appointment of Dean David M. Steiner as the new Commissioner of Education in New York:

STATEMENT FROM COALITION OF EDUCATION LEADERS HAILING APPOINTMENT OF DAVID M. STEINER AS NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER
Coalition Calls Appointment a “Bold and Wise Choice”

July 27, 2009 (ALBANY, NY) – A coalition of education leaders issued a statement today on the appointment of Dean David M. Steiner as New York State Education Commissioner.
“We applaud the selection of David Steiner as Commissioner of Education. Commissioner Steiner is an accomplished educator who throughout his career has sought – and found – fresh answers to some of the most difficult issues we face in education.
“David Steiner knows that New York must streamline and increase state standards, dramatically improve teacher training and support, upgrade the capacity to use data to improve results, openly and intelligently embrace innovation and work to ensure that the State Education Department is ready, willing and able to clear the path for great schools and the teachers and leaders in them. Steiner is a strong, visionary leader who will unite all of us that care about public education and he will inspire by example.
“As dean of one of the most respected schools of education, he has sought innovative solutions to improving the quality of teachers in the classroom, recognizing the absolute and critical link between quality teachers and student achievement. We are confident he will bring this same energy and commitment to all the challenges that he will confront as our state’s chief education officer.
“We congratulate Chancellor Tisch and the Board of Regents for their bold and wise choice. With Commissioner Steiner at the helm, New York is better positioned to not only compete for much needed federal education funds, but in the longer term to realize the vision of educational excellence that parents and President Obama have challenged us to achieve.”

The statement was signed by:

* Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone
* Robert L. Hughes, President, New Visions for Public Schools
* James Merriman, Chief Executive Officer, New York City Charter School Center
* Ariela Rozman, Chief Executive Officer, The New Teacher Project
* Jemina Bernard, Executive Director, Teach for America - New York
* Joe Williams, Executive Director, Democrats for Education Reform
* Bill Phillips, President, New York Charter Schools Association
* Sy Fliegel, President, CEI-PEA
* David Umansky, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Builders
* Luis Miranda
* Richard A. Berlin, Executive Director, Harlem RBI