Branstad chooses Buck as new Department of Education director

DES MOINES - Brad Buck says he's a collaborator who promises a “high-quality implementation” of the state's new education law while looking forward to what comes next.

Gov. Terry Branstad tapped Buck, 44, to be the state's next Department of Education director on Tuesday.

Buck is a married father of six children. He's a graduate of both the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University and currently serves as superintendent for the Saydel School District.

He was one of 26 candidates to apply for the state's top education post, most recently held by Jason Glass, who left in June to become a superintendent for a Colorado school district.

“I appreciate the systematic approach (of education reform law),” Buck said during a phone conversation Tuesday afternoon. “We can have a high-quality implementation of that … I will also keep an eye on what we need to do next.”

In his cover letter accompanying his job application, Buck highlighted his district's experience with a teacher promotion and evaluation system that's similar to the centerpiece of the education reform law. Both systems called for creating different classifications of teachers based on their success in the classroom and willingness to train and collaborate with other staff.

Elaborating on the system during the phone call, Buck said he had a “94 percent approval” from the teachers in Saydel when the district moved to adopt the plan.

Dan Smith, executive director of the School Administrators of Iowa, called Buck an excellent choice. Buck previously served as president of the group, and Smith said he knew Buck back when Buck was a middle school principal in the Hudson, Iowa, school district.

“He's a creative, intelligent person,” Smith said.

Smith's compliments were echoed by Iowa School Board Association Executive Director Tom Downs, who wrote in an email that both he and the organization were “pleased” to hear of Buck's selection.

“Brad has a long history of serving Iowa teachers and students in administrative roles with several school districts across the state,” Downs said in the email. “This gives him an understanding of the challenges faced by both rural and urban districts as we confront issues such as decreasing enrollments, increasing poverty, and fast-paced technological changes.”

Tammy Wawro, president of the Iowa Education Association, said in a statement that teachers' union members look forward to working with Buck and “remain committed to our participation in conversations about how to continue improving and enhancing our public education system for all Iowa's students."

Glass chimed in with a tweet of congratulations Tuesday: “@DrBradBuck u r going 2 b an #edurockstar! I'm glad ppl @IADeptofEd r going to have solid leader in u - I am always at your service!”

Buck will make $150,000 a year. His start date hasn't been set, but he's expected to begin work before Sept. 1.