Armando Vilaseca Named Vermont Commissioner of Education
By David Cyprian
Printer
Friendly Versions:
Armando
Vilaseca has been named Vermont’s new commissioner of
education, the State Board of Education announced last month. Vilaseca had been
serving as the superintendent of the Franklin West supervisory union (covering
the towns of Fairfax, Fletcher, and Georgia).
Acting Commissioner Bill Talbott will return
to his full-time duties as the Department’s Chief Financial Officer.
The
State Board of Education recommended Vilaseca as
their choice on a 6-2 vote. Governor
Douglas then approved the Board’s decision.
“Armando brings to the position a tremendous amount of field
experience,” said State Board Chair Tom James.
“He has a reputation for being innovative and exhibits a willingness to
take reasonable risk to improve and enhance education for all students. He exhibits confidence and trust in people,
and lets leaders lead. The Board is
pleased to have had a significant number of very strong applications, and feels
we have the right person for these times.”
“Armando’s
experience, energy and passion for education will serve Vermonters well,”
Governor James Douglas said. “He shares
my commitment to ensuring that every child has access to the knowledge and
training they need to succeed in the 21st Century, contribute to economic
growth and inspire innovation. I look
forward to working with him.”
A
resident of Westford, Vermont, Vilaseca graduated
from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of science
degree in education. He received his masters in education with a focus on
educational leadership from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Vilaseca has over 29 years of experience in Vermont
education, having spent his entire professional career in Vermont schools. He began as a classroom teacher at the
Georgia Middle School in Georgia, Vermont, and served as a teaching principal
at the Reading Elementary School. He
then served as the principal for Westford Elementary and Middle School,
assistant principal and then principal of Essex High School, a position he
served in for 10 years, and superintendent of the Colchester School District
from 2004 to 2006. Since then, he has
served in the same capacity at Franklin West.
Vilaseca, a native of Cuba who immigrated to the US
at age 8, has also served as a government liaison accompanying a delegation to
Cuba to introduce Cubans to Vermont agricultural products. He traveled with Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie on a trade mission in 2004.
As
the commissioner of education, he will oversee the Department of Education
staff of 190 individuals in carrying out the duties of coordinating the
educational work of the public schools in Vermont. He is expected to assume the Commissionership
in January.
The
State Board began the commissioner search in July following the resignation of
former commissioner Richard Cate. The other finalists for the position were
Brian O’Regan, a former deputy commissioner, and
Betty J. Sternberg, superintendent of schools for Greenwich, Connecticut.
Editor’s Note: This
article was adapted from a Department of Education press release.