Kasich Creates Cabinet Post for Education (OH)

February 8, 2011

In a seeming attempt to take greater control of education policy in Ohio, Gov. John Kasich created a cabinet-level schools position yesterday that answers directly to him.

The Republican governor named Robert Sommers as director of the Governor’s Office of 21st Century Education.

With a background in career technical education and charter schools, Sommers was chief executive officer of Cornerstone Charter Schools in Detroit.

Previously, he was chief executive officer of Butler Tech in Hamilton, Ohio, helping to propel the public school from a state ranking of 41st in student performance among career centers to first. He also worked for the Ohio Department of Education.

Sommers will be Kasich’s chief education adviser and will coordinate kindergarten-to-12th-grade education policy, charter schools and other school-choice initiatives and work-force training efforts. He will be paid $110,000 a year.

John Stanford, who had a similar but less-sweeping role with former Gov. Ted Strickland, made $105,000.
&#x0A ;
"Education isn’t just about learning facts on a page and bang, it’s over," said Kasich spokesman Scott Milburn. "Education is part of preparing Ohioans for a lifetime of academic and career opportunities, and there is a lifetime learning arc that we all need to be involved in."

This is the second cabinet-level office Kasich has created to oversee broad policy initiatives. He previously named Greg Moody to lead the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation and coordinate an overhaul of Ohio’s Medicaid program.

Like Medicaid, education cuts across several areas of state government. Past governors have struggled at times to shape education policy, with other offices and officials also working to improve schools.

Although Milburn said that Sommers will work with existing offices and leaders, his appointment probably will diminish the role of state Superintendent Deborah S. Delisle, who serves at the pleasure of the Ohio Board of Education. The 19-member board shifted to Republican control after Kasich named five people to fill vacancies.