Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg for the Capital-Star).
On the first day of budget hearings, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Carrie Rowe to lead Pennsylvania’s Department of Education.
Rowe currently serves as deputy secretary of elementary and secondary education at the department.
“I look forward to working with Gov. Shapiro, the General Assembly and partners in the field to ensure that all Pennsylvania learners have access to a world-class education system and all of the possibilities it brings,” Rowe said.
Shapiro said that Rowe has “dedicated her career to ensuring every student has access to a quality education.”
Khalid Mumin was tapped by Shapiro to serve as his education secretary right before the governor’s term began in 2023 and held the position until his resignation in December.
Following Mumin’s resignation, Executive Deputy Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer was the interim secretary.
Rowe has worked in public education for 25 years, per a release from Shapiro’s office. The governor’s office said she’s provided “strategic guidance on structured literacy, workforce readiness, teacher recruitment and retention and student mental health,” during her time serving as Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary for the office of elementary and secondary education. Shapiro’s administration also credited her for being a “champion for dual-credit programs, high-intensity summer learning and multilingual education to prepare students for college and career pathways.”
Prior to joining Pennsylvania’s Department of Education, Rowe was a superintendent of schools for the Beaver Area School District in western Pennsylvania. Shapiro’s office said in that role, she focused on “equitable resource allocation and removing institutional barriers to opportunity.”
The Pennsylvania State Education Association called her a “terrific choice.”
“She brings a wealth of experience to the position having served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and deputy education secretary,” Chris Lilienthal, PSEA assistant director of communications told the Capital-Star. “She has been a strong advocate for students and for educators, and there is no doubt that her talent and experience will make her an excellent secretary.”
Education has taken center stage during Shapiro’s administration following increased funding for K-12 public schools over the last two budgets and providing free breakfast for public school students. Shapiro’s latest budget proposal continues to include new investments in public education.
The Pennsylvania Senate will decide whether to confirm Rowe as education secretary.