FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, December 1, 2005
	Contact: Jonathan Burman, Tom Dunn, Alan Ray

James Kadamus, Deputy Commissioner for K-12 Education, to Retire

James A. Kadamus, Deputy Commissioner for Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education, will retire from state service effective February 1, 2006, State Education Commissioner Richard Mills announced today. He will join Sightlines LLC, a family business that consults with higher education, as Vice President of its newly opened New York Division, located in Albany.

Commissioner Mills promised an “immediate and aggressive search for his successor.”

In making the announcement, Commissioner Mills said, “I asked Jim Kadamus to be Deputy Commissioner a decade ago because I saw immediately that I could rely on his candor and judgment. He has given full measure on his commitment to the work ever since.

“For the last decade, Jim has led the development and implementation of the most comprehensive K-12 reform in the nation. He led the team to develop an assessment and accountability system that Education Week has consistently ranked best in the country. That system enabled the Regents to identify the gaps in achievement and devise policy to cause that gap to start to close. He led the Regents efforts to create a fair and understandable state aid reform and spoke forcefully for that concept in the court, the legislature, and to countless audiences statewide.

“Jim Kadamus is hard working, innovative, and unshakeable in difficult circumstances. He is respected among educators, elected officials, and members of the public. He leaves his part of our organization in excellent condition, with good relationships among our stakeholders and a clear path for the work ahead. He has focused his work on the mission of educating every child to high standards.

“After decades of public service, Jim has decided to test himself against an innovative venture in the private sector. He joins a family business. We wish him great success. We thank him for his service to the children of New York, and his many contributions to our team here at the State Education Department.”

Deputy Commissioner Kadamus said, “I’ll miss working with the Board of Regents, Commissioner Mills, and Education Department staff. They were my working family for many years. Now, working in my brother’s business is exciting and its mission builds on my personal and professional experience.”

Commissioner Mills also announced, “We have begun an aggressive search with the goal of finding a Deputy by February 1.”

The search, he said, will be nation-wide, and also throughout the many school districts, colleges, and other institutions of the University of the State of New York (USNY). The search will assure a diverse pool of qualified, committed candidates. “In addition to the usual advertisement of the position,” he said, “we will contact many state and national education leaders to identify potential candidates.” A small team will coordinate this search, with the Commissioner’s direct involvement.

“We will of course consult with the Regents periodically and recommend a highly qualified candidate to the Board for their action,” Commissioner Mills said. “As we proceed, we will consult the many partners in the Regents education reform, including superintendents, college and university presidents, the disability community, parent groups, students, the business community, union leaders, district superintendents, school boards, and State Education Department staff. These consultations will begin immediately with the goal of helping us define the qualities of candidates we need.”

Jim Kadamus has worked for the State Education Department for 32 years. For the past 10 years he has been in charge of K-12 education. Sightlines was founded by his brother, David Kadamus. The company advises 115 colleges in 25 states on facilities use and investment.

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