When it comes to education, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is a man of standards. Quite literally, it turns out: While a few other states seem headed towards national "common core standards" in education—and part of $4 billion in federal "Race to the Top" funds—McDonnell is standing by the state’s Standards of Learning and withdrew Virginia’s application from the "Race to the Top" program.
To set the standard for higher education in the state, however, McDonnell recently looked to Albemarle County. Albemarle County Public Schools announced recently that Superintendent Pamela Moran was appointed to McDonnell’s Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation and Investment, created by the governor’s Executive Order No. 9.
Moran, as it turns out, is the only representative of K-12 education among the 30 commission members. "We are honored that the innovative, strategic and operational work of Albemarle County Public Schools is being recognized by Governor McDonnell and his staff by appointing Dr. Moran to this important commission," said county school board chair Ronnie Price, Sr. "Our school division is a model for many of the goals this commission has."