Ann Smisko, a recognized education leader, will return to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) February 16, 2010 as the associate commissioner for school support and improvement, according to a Texas Education Agency announcement on Friday.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Smisko back to TEA. Because of her recent work in an urban school district, she understands firsthand how state education policy works when implemented at the classroom level. Dr. Smisko brings a wealth of knowledge and experience involving curriculum development, testing and textbook selection to the agency,” said Commissioner of Education Robert Scott. Dr. Smisko will report to Deputy Commissioner Ray Glynn.
The Smisko announcement follows the recent statement by Commissioner Robert Scott of his plan to conduct an across-agency review of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) commissioner’s rules. The goal of the review is to determine if any rules can be eliminated or modified to reduce the work load on school districts and charter schools. Because Smisko will have responsibilities for managing programs funded under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, commonly referred to as “No Child Left Behind,” and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), she will be well positioned to consider the interplay between Commissioner’s rules and many federal rules.
In her new role Dr. Smisko will coordinate the agency’s efforts to assist struggling schools, which includes the state turnaround center and agency programs that support turnaround efforts at the local school district level. The consolidation of these programs into one department managed by Smisko emphasizes the TEA leadership’s interest in separating the state-level support efforts from the agency’s monitoring and oversight responsibilities. Smisko is well-regarded by the broader education community from her prior tenure at TEA as the associate commissioner for curriculum, assessment, and related programs. That background in conjunction with her recent experience in Austin ISD gives her a perspective unique in Texas right now and makes her well suited to assume this new role at TEA.
Smisko previously worked at TEA from 1977 to 2003 in a variety of roles. From 1996 until 2003, she served as the associate commissioner for curriculum, assessment and technology. She most recently served for four years as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction with the Austin Independent School District. She is the former associate vice chancellor for public schools for the Texas A&M University System and served as supervisor of student teachers for Boston College. Smisko began her education career as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools.
