Questar III BOCES District Superintendent Glady Cruz has been appointed to the New York State Education Department’s Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission that will explore what a state diploma should signify to ensure educational excellence and equity for every student in the state. Commission members represent a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, professionals from business and higher education, parents, and students. The commission will be co-chaired by Vice Chancellor Josephine V. Finn and Regent Judith Chin. Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced the appointments earlier this week.

As the district superintendent of Questar III BOCES, which serves school districts in Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties, Cruz has held various positions over her 30-year career, including teacher, specialist, director, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent at the local, regional, and state levels. She also currently serves as 2022-23 president-elect of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the nation’s premier organization representing more than 13,000 public school superintendents nationwide.

Commissioner Rosa said, “Forming the Blue Ribbon Commission is a significant milestone in our efforts to review the state’s current graduation measures. We used a deliberate and thoughtful process to convene a diverse group of experts to help ensure educational excellence and equity for every student in New York State. I thank all the nominees for their interest in this exciting initiative, and I look forward to learning from the esteemed members of the Commission.”

I am proud to be selected as a member of the Commission and I applaud the Board of Regents for undertaking this long-overdue effort,” said Cruz.” We need to be thoughtful in ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education, no matter their background, ability, interest, or zip code.”

Board of Regents members and stakeholder groups submitted nominees for consideration for the Commission. In addition, members of the education community and the general public could submit applications. In total, the Department received over 400 completed applications and used a rigorous process to review applications. ​ The Blue Ribbon Commission will develop recommendations to the Board of Regents on what measures of learning and achievement could better serve New York’s diverse student population as indicators of what they know and of their readiness for college, career, and civic life. The Commission will begin meeting this fall and will meet regularly through spring 2024.

Recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission will be developed through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Commission’s final report is expected to be presented to the Board of Regents for consideration in the late spring or summer of 2024.

 

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