Blanca Estela Enriquez, who has led the Region 19 Head Start program in El Paso, Texas, since 1986, is the new national director of Head Start.
Ms. Enriquez previously served on an early-education advisory committee to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. She also served on a federal committee that crafted the framework for a grant-competition process requiring Head Start centers to recompete for federal funds.
Ronn Nozoe, Hawaii’s deputy schools superintendent, has been named the new deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs in the U.S. Department of Education’s office of elementary and secondary education.
During his tenure in Hawaii, Mr. Nozoe helped implement the state’s $75 million Race to the Top grant.
Terry Holliday, the commissioner of education in Kentucky, has announced that he will retire Aug. 31, ending 43 years in public education.
Mr. Holliday has served as commissioner since July 2009. While at the helm, he implemented a state education law that created new academic standards and made changes in assessments and accountability, and the state improved its graduation rate.
Rob Saxton resigned last week after nearly three years as Oregon’s first appointed head of public schools.
He will become interim superintendent of Northwest Regional ESD for the next two years.
