CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine has been named to the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) Board of Directors. He is the only state schools chief currently on the 11-member board. Other members include former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley and Linda Darling-Hammond, one of President Barack Obama’s top education advisers.

 

Paine, a former teacher, principal, curriculum director, county superintendent and deputy state superintendent, has served as West Virginia’s 25th state superintendent of schools since July 1, 2005. Under his leadership, West Virginia has been nationally recognized for its 21st Century Learning Skills initiative, pre-k programs, school technology implementation, reading initiatives and teacher quality efforts.

 

He helped West Virginia become the second state in the nation to sign the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and now other states are looking to West Virginia and Paine for guidance. He was invited to testify before the U.S. Senate about his vision for 21st century education.

 

“I’m honored to be elected to the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future Board of Directors,” Paine said. “West Virginia’s 21st Century Learning effort will provide our graduates with the intellectual capital to compete in an interconnected world. It is my hope that other states can learn from the changes we are making in West Virginia.”

 

West Virginia’s 21st Century Learning program not only focuses on core academic courses, it also emphasizes global awareness, financial, economic and business literacy, information and communications technology literacy, critical thinking and communication skills, among others. The state’s efforts fall in line with NCTAF’s goals.

 

Others elected to the non-profit NCTAF board are Steve Dowling with Pearson; Charles Knapp with East Lake Foundation; Tom Payzant with Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Richard Schwab with the University of Connecticut.

 

“These individuals bring rich and varied perspectives on education to NCTAF,” Riley, NCTAF’s co-chairman, said. “Their experience, expertise and vision will be extremely valuable as we work together to ensure that 21st century teaching and learning are hallmarks of every child’s education.”

 

The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, based in Washington, D.C., works with national organizations, policymakers, state agencies, school districts, business leaders and higher education to raise awareness and strengthen policies to improve teaching quality. NCTAF also has called on policymakers and education leaders to provide every child in America with 21st century teaching.

 

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699.

 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.