Four Alaskans were named Wednesday as finalists for Alaska's next education commissioner, a position in Gov. Bill Walker's cabinet. Three are school superintendents and the other is the interim commissioner.
The state Board of Education and Early Development said the finalists are Robert Boyle, superintendent of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District; Michael Johnson, superintendent of the Copper River School District; Stewart McDonald, superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School District; and Susan McCauley, the interim education commissioner.
"It wasn't totally necessary for the candidates to be from Alaska but there were certain criteria, one being rural education experience, that obviously suited applicants from Alaska," said James Fields, the chair of the education board.
Fields said board members selected the four finalists from a pool of 14 candidates. The board plans to interview the finalists on June 15 in Juneau and send its selection to Walker, he said.
The board's appointment is subject to Walker's approval.
The finalist selected as the next education commissioner will take the job once held by Mike Hanley.
Hanley started working as the commissioner in 2011. In February, Walker and the education board said they had decided to "steer the state's education system in a new direction," and Hanley would be stepping down. McCauley, who led the Education Department's teaching and learning support division, was named interim commissioner.
Sue Hull, first vice-chair of the education board, said Wednesday that the board, in part, wants to modernize the state's education system and make learning more individualized — through incorporation of online classes and by having students involved in community projects for class credit.
"Students can get what they need, when they need, how they learn best," Hull said. "We are looking for a commissioner that can clearly articulate that vision and lead the system forward."
Fields said the board's "tentative plan" is to announce the next commissioner June 17.