Critchfield names two top aides – East Idaho News

Initially posted on IdahoEdNews.org on November 10, 2022.

BOISE – State superintendent-elect Debbie Critchfield is losing no time beginning to fill out her inside circle.

Critchfield Thursday introduced two high hires. Former gubernatorial aide Greg Wilson will function her chief of employees, and Idaho college administrator Ryan Cantrell will function deputy state superintendent.

Critchfield made the announcement from Coeur d’Alene. She traveled North from Boise simply hours after profitable her election to attend the annual Idaho College Boards Affiliation conference.

“These are my individuals” mentioned the previous college board member.

Wilson additionally was in Coeur d’Alene assembly and greeting with among the 500 trustees, superintendents and directors in attendance.

Critchfield’s first two hires have state authorities expertise — and a background in two of the state’s largest college districts and one among Idaho’s most rural districts.

“I’m excited and honored that Greg and Ryan have agreed to serve Idaho’s college students and colleges on the State Division of Schooling,” Critchfield mentioned in a information launch Thursday. “Their confirmed monitor data of success, expertise with Ok-12 coverage, and relationships with key instructional leaders throughout Idaho will assist make sure that we’re pointed in direction of our targets and we will lead out on day one as state superintendent.”

The information got here two days after voters elected Critchfield, in one among Election Night time’s greatest landslides. The Republican Critchfield secured practically 70% of the vote, swamping Democrat Terry Gilbert in an open race for superintendent of public instruction.

In January, Critchfield will succeed two-term state superintendent Sherri Ybarra, who completed third in Might’s GOP main. As superintendent, Critchfield will head up the State Division of Schooling, one of many state’s largest businesses, with greater than 120 full-time positions.

With Thursday’s appointments, the highest of Critchfield’s SDE organizational chart got here into focus.

Wilson has near a decade’s expertise in state authorities. He served as Gov. Brad Little’s training adviser throughout the bulk of the governor’s first time period — engaged on training initiatives such because the instructor wage profession ladder, and the Robust Households, Robust College students program, which offered training grants for households throughout the pandemic.

Wilson left Little’s employees in January to work for SAS Institute Inc., a North Carolina-based analysis agency. Shortly earlier than Wilson’s departure, SAS obtained a $3.5 million no-bid contract by the state for a Ok-12 scholar knowledge administration venture.

Wilson left SAS in April, taking a job as chief communications officer for the West Ada College District, Idaho’s largest district.

Cantrell is director of district applications for the Idaho Digital Studying Alliance, a statewide on-line college. Earlier than that, Cantrell labored within the Bruneau-Grand View College District from 2014 to 2021 as an elementary college principal, particular training director and in the end as district superintendent. He started his profession as a particular training instructor in Nampa, and he has labored in public and constitution colleges.

Critchfield, Wilson and Cantrell all served on Little’s Ok-12 training process pressure in 2019.

Wilson and Cantrell will head up transition efforts for Critchfield till January. Critchfield will appoint a transition committee within the subsequent few days.