Jeffrey C. Riley became the state’s 24th commissioner of elementary and secondary education in 2018 and has brought a renewed focus on instruction and on partnering with districts.
In 2019, he mapped out priorities such as bringing deeper learning to more classrooms and encouraging the use of evidence-based practices like diversifying the workforce. Those initiatives are now reflected in the DESE’s educational vision, which envisions classrooms where:
- All students are known and valued;
- Learning experiences are relevant, real-world, and interactive; and
- Individualized supports allow all students to excel.
Commissioner Riley’s previous positions include serving as superintendent/receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools, principal of Tyngsboro Middle School, and principal of Boston’s Edwards Middle School.
Commissioner Riley lives in Boston and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Pomona College in California, a master’s degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and a master’s degree in school administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University.