Innovative Hunter Dean Is New State Education Czar

DAVID STEINER: Governor calls him 'visionary.'

Hunter College School of Education Dean David Steiner was elected State Education Commissioner by the Board of Regents July 27, replacing the retiring Richard P. Mills, who served for 14 years.

Mr. Steiner's appointment was praised by elected officials and union leaders, who focused especially on his work at Hunter to modernize Teacher training methods, where he uses video analysis and other innovations in classes.

Plaudits From Mayor, Klein

"He has helped improve Teacher quality in New York State, enhanced special-education programs and programs for immigrant children, and strengthened the training of Principals and other school leaders," said Mayor Bloomberg in a statement, saying he and Mr. Steiner would work to "close the achievement gap between minority students and their white counterparts in New York City and statewide."

Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein said, "He understands the importance of Teacher preparation, the use of technology to enhance the instructional mission, and the importance of holding everyone accountable for student achievement. The Regents chose wisely."

Outgoing United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said, "With our schools facing budget cuts it is more important than ever to have another partner in Albany, which we feel we have in Commissioner Steiner," citing his "innovative Teacher induction programs, such as the Urban Teacher Residency program."

Governor Paterson called him a "visionary" and a "nationally recognized leader in the field" of Teacher preparation, saying that at Hunter College, "Dr. Steiner increased enrollment and strengthened critical programs that train future Teachers."

Mr. Steiner used inexpensive video cameras to film all Teachers in training at Hunter, then watched the tape with the students to identify positive and negative aspects of their perform- ance. This form of "360-degree" learning has been embraced by other Teacher training programs.

Wants Tougher Teacher Test

He has also criticized the state's current Teacher certification test, calling it too easy because of its 92- percent pass rate, saying at a press conference that the bar should be set higher for such a crucial test.

A Teacher residency program he piloted with the city Department of Education and a non-profit called New Visions for Public Schools will focus on the preparation of public secondary school Teachers. Another partnership with KIPP and other charter school organizations raised $30 million to co-design a "dedicated Teacher preparation program."

At the press conference at which he was introduced, Mr. Steiner shied away from making pronouncements on hot-button issues, such as the state's current cap on charter schools and the use of student testing data for Teacher tenure decisions, saying, "let's take some time on [these issues]," according to the New York Times.

He will assume his new post on Oct. 1.