State interim education commissioner resigns, becomes third to leave within year
Outgoing New York interim Education Commissioner Shannon Tahoe speaks to members of the Board of Regents during a meeting at the state Education Department Building in Albany on Feb. 10. Credit: Hans Pennink
A replacement for the state's outgoing schools chief, Shannon Tahoe, is likely to be a professional educator, according to one Long Islander taking part in the selection process.
Tahoe, an attorney, steps down Aug. 13 as acting education commissioner. Her departure was confirmed Friday by leaders of the Board of Regents, which appoints commissioners.
Tahoe leaves after eight months on the job and at a pivotal point for public education on Long Island and across the state. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has said he will decide the week of Aug. 1 whether schools will reopen in the fall, after closing down in mid-March in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a phone interview, Tahoe said family concerns were a factor in her decision — her children are ages 14, 12, and 8 — as was a new job offer. She declined to name the job.
"This was always temporary for me," Tahoe said of the acting commissioner' post, "and I think this is the time to move on to the next opportunity."
Tahoe said she hoped the Regents would quickly find a permanent commissioner, and that the chance to work with the board and educators statewide was "among the greatest pleasures of a lifetime."
Emily DeSantis, the department's lead spokesperson, said later that the search for a permanent chief would be extended to at least Oct. 1.
Statewide groups representing superintendents and unionized teachers praised Tahoe on Friday.
Regent Roger Tilles, who represents the Nassau-Suffolk region on the board, complimented the acting commissioner's work, but added that a successor with direct educational experience was needed. At least two state officials with backgrounds in public education have been identified as possible candidates, though neither has stepped forth publicly.
Tilles said of Tahoe: "We are very pleased with her performance, but need an educator during the next months, which will certainly be difficult ones to navigate for schools."
Some on the Island agreed.
Hank Grishman, superintendent of Jericho schools, said Tahoe put "her heart and soul" into the job.
"However, given the challenge of the current times and all the decisions that have to come out of the state Education Department, this is the time that the commissioner's position, either permanent or interim, must be filled with someone with direct and broad-based field experience," Grishman said.
Some local educators in recent months have voiced concern over administrative turnovers in the department, including resignations of three top executives in the space of a single year.
"You know, it's bad timing," said Michael Cohen, former superintendent of Brentwood schools, the region's largest system. "You always want continuity in a time of crisis, and we're not getting that. They're facing decisions that have to be made now. It's like, how many kids do you have on the school bus? How many in the classroom? What about teachers with pre-existing conditions? How many times a day do you clean bathrooms?"
Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa and Vice Chancellor Andrew Brown said the board expects to name a new acting commissioner before Tahoe leaves.
Before taking the acting commisioner's job, Tahoe served as the education department’s acting chief counsel. She worked 14 years in all for the agency.
John Hildebrand is Newsday's senior education writer and has covered school news and policy issues affecting Long Island for more than 40 years.
