Jillian Balow resigns as Virginia's superintendent of public instruction
Jillian Balow has resigned as Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction but will remain a consultant for the administration, according to a March 1 letter addressed to Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Balow did not provide an explanation for her resignation, which is effective March 9.
“Having now served as the top school official in two states, I am excited to continue sharing your priorities: advocating for parents, focusing on academic achievement, expanding choice, and improving school safety,” wrote Balow, who previously served as state school superintendent in Wyoming. “More than any other contemporary conservative elected official, I believe you have reinstated the importance of providing quality education and I know that many other states are eager to follow your lead.”
Macaulay Porter, a spokeswoman for Youngkin, said in a statement that the governor thanks Balow for her service and work in advancing his education agenda to “empower parents and restore excellence in education.”
Balow, a consistent opponent of critical race theory, a graduate-level framework that focuses on racial inequity, was appointed to the position by the governor in January of last year. Youngkin’s first executive order, issued on the day of his inauguration, prohibited the use of “inherently divisive concepts,” including CRT, in K-12 education and ordered the state to raise academic standards. Balow subsequently ended virtually all equity initiatives launched by Virginia’s Department of Education under former Gov. Ralph Northam.
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/03/01/jillian-balow-resigns-as-virginias-superintendent-of-public-instruction/
