(DES MOINES, IOWA) – November 17, 2004 – Governor Tom Vilsack today named Judy Jeffrey as Director of the Iowa Department of Education, effective immediately. Jeffrey had been serving as interim director since August, when former director Ted Stilwill retired.
“Judy has the ideal credentials to lead Iowa’s educational system to the next level of excellence and opportunity,” Vilsack said. “Iowa already has high performing schools, but we absolutely must continue to improve in order to stay competitive. Judy will ensure that will happen. She has demonstrated that she has high standards and expectations for both teachers and students, and proved that she can put practical strategies in place to make sure those goals are met.”
Vilsack pointed to Jeffrey’s involvement in setting education policy and guidelines, including teacher quality legislation, student achievement benchmarks, and standards for teacher candidates and teacher preparation programs, as examples of her contributions to date, and said he is confident Jeffrey will continue to reach out to educators and community leaders to cooperate on ongoing improvement.
“I greatly appreciate this opportunity to continue to help shape the future of Iowa’s educational system,” said Jeffrey. “We have a lot to be proud of, and also have many challenges ahead in terms of enrollment and funding. Our local districts will need courage and fortitude to ensure their schools are providing the very best curriculum to students.”
Jeffrey’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate during the 2005 legislative session. If approved, she would serve a 4-year term.
Prior to this appointment, Judy Jeffrey had been the state’s Early
Childhood, Elementary & Secondary Division administrator since 1996. Before
that, she served 24 years in the Council Bluffs Community School district in
various administrative and classroom teaching positions. Jeffrey also has been
an instructor at Creighton University, and has taught in other Iowa districts
including Cedar Falls and Goldfield, where she began her teaching career in
1964. She was president of the Council of Chief State School Officers Deputy
Commission from 2001-2003, and currently sits on its board of directors. Jeffrey
earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1963 and
her master’s degree in 1981 from Creighton University. She resides in Polk
City.