Gov. Arne Carlson of Minnesota has picked Gene Mammenga, director of legislative affairs for the Minnesota Education Association and a former teacher, as the state’s education commissioner.
Mr. Carlson, an Independent Republican elected in November, announced his selection last month. Mr. Mammenga, 59, is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and served as a state senator from 1967 through 1972.
The new commissioner was the teacher union’s chief lobbyist from 1976 to 1984 and returned to that post in 1988. During the intervening four years, he was director of governmental affairs for the Minnesota state university system.
“We’re naturally pleased” by his appointment, said Deborah Ely, mea manager of communications. “He definitely has the interests of Minnesota students at heart and has worked for and with teachers.”
The Toledo, Ohio, school board has named Crystal Ellis to succeed Ruth Scott, who retired as superintendent last month.
Ms. Ellis, 57, a deputy superintendent until the board’s decision, is the 42,000-student district’s first black superintendent.
Harry Pitt, the superintendent of the 103,700-student Montgomery County, Md., school system has announced he will retire from his position when his contract expires in June.
Mr. Pitt is a 29-year veteran of the system and has been its superintendent for four years.