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News ReleaseSALT LAKE CITY - Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington today announced she would retire from her position effective July 1, 2009.
"Working with the youth and children in Utah and seeing their accomplishments has been my greatest career reward," Harrington wrote to Utah State Board of Education Chairman Debra Roberts. "I add to that the remarkable experience of knowing and loving so many talented, dedicated and selfless educators and leaders in the state. My life has been blessed by their goodness and work."
Harrington has enjoyed a 32-year career in public education and has been State Superintendent of Public Instruction since June 2004. Before that she was the state's associate superintendent for student achievement and school success. She came to the state office from Provo School District where she was superintendent.
"Five years ago when the board hired her as the superintendent, it was obvious that her experience, her expertise, her vibrant personality, but most of all he unwavering devotion to the students of Utah fit her for that position," said Utah State Board of Education Chairman Debra Roberts. "We have been more than rewarded for that decision."
The Utah State Board of Education will form a search committee shortly to begin work to find a replacement for Harrington.
During her nearly five-year tenure as superintendent, Harrington has seen the Utah public school system grow from 495,682 to 551,013 students. The number of charter schools in the state increased from 36 to 66. The total number of schools grew from 920 to 994. During this same time period the state's school budget grew from $2.4 billion to $3.4 billion, an average annual increase of 8.8 percent.
Under Harrington's supervision, the Utah State Office of Education saw:
- Implementation of online educator licensing renewal
- Expansion of online software to measure student writing ability
- Broadened use of computer adaptive testing of students
- Establishment of learning standards for English language learner students
- Implementation of unique student identifier numbers a to better track student performance throughout the state system
- Completion of all elements recommended by the National Data Quality Campaign
- Reduced turnaround times in scoring statewide assessments
(Courtesy: Utah State Office of Education)
