Pennsylvania Education Secretary Rivera to step down in October

Pennsylvania’s top education official plans to step down from his position in early October, the state announced Tuesday.

Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera’s departure comes during the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing uncertainty for schools making their plans for the fall. According to a news release, Rivera will become president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, effective Oct. 1.

In response to the news, several area superintendents said they were disappointed to see Rivera go — not only for the timing, but also because they admired his leadership and his experience as a superintendent himself. Some described him as a friend.

“I’m always shocked when people leave positions that are truly talented and really respected,” said James Harris, superintendent of Woodland Hills School District. “It is a loss for Pennsylvania education.”

Mark Holtzman, superintendent of McKeesport Area School District, said Rivera was “relatable.” Holtzman said Rivera knows the challenges of public education, and he appreciated Rivera’s efforts in areas of student equity and other issues.

“He’s a guy that I felt like was one of us,” Holtzman said.

Before becoming secretary, Rivera had served as superintendent of the School District of Lancaster. He’d also worked as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and executive director within the School District of Philadelphia.

Holtzman described the timing of Rivera’s move as “unfortunate.”

Jamie Piraino, superintendent at Franklin Regional, applauded Rivera’s work over the years. But as schools prepare plans for an uncertain fall reopening, Piraino said Rivera’s departure — though the school year will be underway by October — could become challenging for educators at the local level.

“Right now, it’s a tough time to change leadership in the department,” Piraino said. “At some level, I have concerns in regard to the guidance that we may need over the coming months to navigate some pretty tough waters.”

Piraino has criticized the state’s guidance for schools during the pandemic in the past and said he is hopeful for more specificity and more dialogue between superintendents and the state in the future. But overall, Piraino said Rivera has been a “champion” for many education issues.

“Looking at what we’re going to navigate over the coming weeks, as things change almost daily,” Piraino said, “we’re going to appreciate Pedro’s leadership as long as we can possibly have it.”

Gov. Tom Wolf said he would nominate Noe Ortega, the deputy secretary of postsecondary and higher education, to replace Rivera. Ortega has served in several administrative and academic positions in higher education across the country, including at the University of Michigan and at colleges and universities in Texas, the news release said. He joined the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2017.

“Noe Ortega has a proven record of advocating for equity and access for all students,” Wolf said in the release. “Recently, Noe has been spearheading Pennsylvania’s efforts to diversify our educator pipeline to make our classrooms better reflect the students we educate, and his expertise will continue to advance the department’s mission of ensuring Pennsylvania’s learners have access to the educational opportunities that will help them succeed.”

Wolf praised Rivera’s work during his more than five years as secretary of education.

“His leadership has been critical during the commonwealth’s response to covid-19,” Wolf said, “and the relationships he cultivated with education stakeholders during his tenure have strengthened the ties between state and local partners and allowed local schools to inform state education policy.”