West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt has been elected to the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Board of Directors, the organization announced recently as part of its annual Policy Forum in Houston, Texas.
CCSSO is a nonpartisan, nationwide nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy and technical assistance on major educational issues.
Superintendent Blatt’s membership in the organization has been a staple providing insight, guidance and expertise throughout the pandemic, legal challenges and efforts by public school officials to navigate the complexities of public education. A person who has risen through the ranks from substitute teacher to state-level executive leadership, she brings a level of situational, corporate and institutional expertise necessary to support public schools, educators, students and families.
“I am honored to serve in this capacity and with so many respected educators from across the country,” said Superintendent Blatt. “We are advocates for public education because it is a pillar of democracy and is the bedrock of our country. The work of CCSSO is essential, and I look forward to serving students across the country and advocating for schools and districts in West Virginia and from coast to coast.”
The Board manages the business activities of the Council and serves as its governing body. It is composed of the president, president-elect, past president and six directors, all elected by CCSSO members.
CCSSO’s leadership for the upcoming year is:
President: Superintendent Chris Reykdal, Washington
President-Elect: Commissioner Charlene Russell-
Tucker, Connecticut
Past President: Superintendent Eric Mackey, Alabama
Board Member: Superintendent Michele Blatt, WV
Board Member: Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green,
Rhode Island
Board Member: Secretary Katie Jenner, Indiana
Board Member: Superintendent Tony Sanders, Illinois
Board Member: Superintendent Jill Underly, Wisconsin
Board Member: Superintendent Richard Woods, Georgia
Through collaborative relations with other board members and the general CCSSO membership, Superintendent Blatt expands her peer network and knowledge base as she leads West Virginia’s public schools.
