Veteran Educator Named as Chief Of Va. Schools

As State Superintendent, Wright Vows to Push Pre-K Programs

She started in education 33 years ago as a high school math teacher in Sussex County. For more than two decades, she has worked for the Virginia Department of Education. Among her duties: helping to oversee the state testing system used to rate schools under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Now Patricia I. Wright, chief deputy superintendent of public instruction since 2006, is about to become Virginia's schools chief. Last week, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) named her to be the next superintendent of public instruction, succeeding Billy K. Cannaday Jr. after he steps down Oct. 1.

Wright, 55, has supervised instruction in many areas, including math and early childhood. She was also instrumental in creating the state's Standards of Learning accountability system.

"There's not much in this agency I have not done," Wright said. As superintendent, she said, she intends to continue pushing for more public access to pre-K and technical education.

In a statement, Kaine said: "I am very pleased to appoint such a well-qualified and accomplished educator to be the commonwealth's superintendent of public instruction. Dr. Wright's previous work in the Department of Education gives me confidence she will continue to produce outstanding educational outcomes for our young people from Pre-K through secondary education."

Kaine had stressed early childhood education as a priority when he ran for governor.

In her current post, Wright oversees the day-to-day operations of the education agency. She is a native of Brunswick County and lives in Chester. She received a bachelor's degree from what is now James Madison University, a master's degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctorate in education from the University of Virginia.

In recent years, state schools chiefs have gained prominence across the country because of their role in coordinating the expansion of student testing required under the 2002 federal law. Virginia has 132 school systems, comprising 1,863 public schools and more than 1.2 million students.

Here are excerpts from a media conference call with Wright last week:

· "There will be no backtracking from . . . reform. Accountability should come from both rewards and consequences. . . . By January, we hope to be sharing more good news about schools that are moving well beyond the SOLs and reaching those excellence goals."

· "We are committed to early childhood education. It will also be my priority. We want to increase access to quality early childhood education."

· "We have a solid education system in Virginia, and I'm very proud of what we have accomplished. . . . The Standards of Learning will remain front and center. We have a strong standards-based accountability system that I believe is second to none. . . . It's common knowledge [that] we want to work on graduation rates. That is a concern all over the country."