State Board of Education Executive Director To Retire After 1 Year On Job

The executive director of the Indiana State Board of Education will retire at the end of this month, just before the board is reconstituted under a new state law.

Robert Guffin has been in the position for one year after leaving Indianapolis Public Schools as an acclaimed principal.

Guffin was one of the state board’s few staff to remain after Gov. Mike Pence announced in December that he was shutting down the Center for Education and Career Innovation. The agency was seen as playing a major role in the intense acrimony and political turmoil between Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz and the board after Pence created it through a 2013 executive order. The center acted as the board's staff.

Guffin, in a news release today, said he planned to spend more time with his family. His last day is May 29.

Pence, a Republican, signed a bill this month that changes the makeup of the state board of education as of June 1. Instead of Pence appointing 10 of the 11 members, he will appoint eight.  Indiana House and Senate leaders will each appoint a member. Ritz, a Democrat, will remain a member and the chairwoman. Though starting in 2017, the chair person position will be elected by the board.

It’s still unknown how many, if any, of the current 10 members will be reappointed.

The Indiana State Teachers Association submitted this week a list of potential appointees, including current board member Cari Whicker.

Other current members -- Gordon Hendry, David Freitas and Brad Oliver-- released an open letter last month asking to be reappointed.

Guffin was praised for his years at IPS where he saw the turnaround of Harshman Middle School. During his five years at the school, student performance improved from a 28 percent student pass rate to 73 percent.

He was also the interim principal at both Emma Donnan and Shortridge Magnet Middle Schools.

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