State Board Of Education Scorecard: Who Stays, Who Goes, Who Is New

The State Board of Education is being remade after a bill signed into law this month changes who can appoint members.

Today, five members of the current 11-member board were not reappointed to new terms that go into effect June 1.

Instead, a group of new members including a teacher of the year and president of a non-profit that promotes STEM curriculum in schools have been picked.

Two years of fighting and political turmoil lead Gov. Mike Pence and lawmakers to hash out a new board makeup during the recent General Assembly session.

Pence, a Republican, signed a bill this month that changes the makeup of the state board of education as of June 1. Instead of the governor appointing 10 of the 11 members, he will appoint eight. Speaker of the House Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long can each make one.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, will remain a member and the chairwoman. Though starting in 2017 the new law, Senate Enrolled Act 1, requires the board to elect its own chair.

“Today marks a fresh start for the State Board of Education,” Pence said in a statement. “Ensuring a quality education for every Hoosier student remains of the utmost importance to our administration, and I commend the tireless efforts of the men and women who have devoted their time and expertise by serving on the Board. Hoosiers can be assured that the individuals appointed today to the State Board of Education bring to the table a wealth of unique educational experiences and remain wholeheartedly committed to serving our kids, our families, our teachers, and our schools.”

Who is staying

Superintendent Glenda Ritz, board chairwoman

David Freitas, reapointed by Pence, through June 30, 2018 for 2nd District. Freitas, of Granger, was first appointed in June 2013. 

Cari Whicker, reapointed by Pence, through June 30, 2019 for 3rd District. Whicker, of Uniondale, was first appointed in Arpil 2012. She is a sixth grade language arts and social studies teacher at Riverview Middle School in Huntington.

Sarah O'Brien, reapointed by Pence, through June 30, 2019 for 4th District. O’Brien, of Avon, was first appointed in April 2009.She will teach fourth grade at River Birch Elementary School and next year.

Gordon Hendry, reapointed by Pence, through June 30, 2017 for At-Large. Hendry of Indianapolis, was first appointed in September 2013. He is First Vice President of CBRE, Inc., a commercial real estate services firm.

B.J. Watts, reapointed by Pence, through June 30, 2018 for 8th District. Watts, of Evansville, was first appointed in 2012. He is a teacher in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.

Who is new

Steve Yager, appointed by Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long, through June 30, 2019. Yager was superintendent of Northwest Allen County Schools for nearly two decades before becoming superintendent at Southwest Allen County Schools in 2009. He retired last year. Yager was co-chair with Ritz of the A-F Accountability Systems Review Panel.

Byron L. Ernest, appointed by House Speaker Brian Bosma, is currently the head of schools for Hoosier Academies, a virtual charter school operated by K-12, Inc. Previously, he was the principal at Emmerich Manual High School in Indianapolis after it was taken over by the state after failing for seven years in a row. Ernest was named Indiana Teacher of the Year in 2010.

Eddie Melton, appointed by Pence, through June 30, 2016 for the 1st District. Melton, of Merrillville, works as Manager of Federal Governmental Relations and Community Relations at Northern Indiana Public Service Company and is on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Males

Vince Bertram, appointed by Pence, through June 30, 2017 for the 5th District. Bertram, of Zionsville, is president and chief executive officer of Project Lead The Way in Indianapolis.

Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, appointed by Pence, through June 30, 2016 for the 9th District. Kwiatkowski, of Greenwood, is assistant superintendent for school Improvement M.S.D. of Warren Township. Previously at the Indiana Department of Education she was director of School Turnaround, director of Differentiated Learning, and director of the Title I program.

Who is leaving

Brad Oliver, 6th District. not reappointed. Previously, he had written an open letter asking to remain on the board. "I look forward to pursuing new opportunities to exhibit influence in the development of our state’s educators and extend my appreciation to the newly appointed members of the State Board of Education for their public service," he said in a statement.

Andrea Neal, 5th District, asked not to be considered for reappointment.

Daniel Elsener, 7th District, asked not to be considered for reappointment.

Tony Walker, 1st District, not reappointed

Troy Albert, 9th District, not reappointed

Contact WFYI education reporter Eric Weddle at eweddle@wfyi.org or call (317) 614-0470. Follow on Twitter: @ericweddle.