Former Arundel Supe. named Florida Education Commissioner
Eric J. Smith was named yesterday to the position.
The State Board of Education voted unanimously to select Smith, who was was one of three finalist.
Smith took over the Arundel system in 2002. All elementary schools met state targets on
standardized tests in his final year; the scores of black high school students ranked among
the top 10 in the state. He also conflicted with the teachers union. In fact, the union was poised to vote on a no-confidence motion when Smith resigned in 2005.
Smith has been senior vice president for college readiness with the College Board since last year.
Like him or not, Smith made an impact on Maryland. Is his new job Maryland’s loss and Florida’s gain?
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Comments
Eric Smith was one of the reasons I left AA Co. schools. While as educators, we should always value differences in our students, yet Eric Smith did not allow for differences in teachers. He expected to walk in to each classroom in a grade level expecting each teacher to be using the same words at the same time. Ridiculous!!!
Posted by: Nanci O | January 8, 2009 8:04 AM