Gov. McDonnell appoints Chris Saxman to education board

Congratulations to friend and former Delegate Chris Saxman of Staunton for his appointment by Governor Bob McDonnell to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).

Chris, a self-employed businessman, is a former educator who advanced school choice and educational vouchers during the eight years he served in the Virginia General Assembly representing the 20th House District.

Headed up by current chairman Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, the Southern Regional Education Board works with 16 member states to improve public education at every level, from pre-K through Ph.D.

SREB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Atlanta. Member states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. SREB’s work is funded by member appropriations and by grants and contracts from foundations and local, state and federal agencies.

The Board includes the governor and four gubernatorial appointees from each member state, including at least one state legislator and one educator. The Legislative Advisory Council of legislators from each state advises the Board.

SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislators who recognized the link between education and economic vitality. To this day, the organization maintains its focus on critical issues that hold the promise of improving quality of life by advancing public education. The region’s track record shows that setting goals and maintaining the commitment to work toward them can make a difference.

The nation’s first regional interstate compact for education, SREB is today the most comprehensive, working directly with state leaders, schools and educators

SREB works directly with public schools and educators to improve classroom teaching and learning, career and technical education, online education and school leadership. Some SREB programs help teachers, professors and state education officials realize the promise of technology. Other targeted programs work to increase the number of minority faculty and researchers; broaden capacity for nursing education; and enable students to reduce out-of-state tuition, find online programs and navigate the path to college.