Simon Gets Federal Education Post

Arkansas Education Department Director Ray Simon is being tapped for a post at the federal Education Department. President Bush has nominated Simon to be assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the U-S Department of Education. The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. Simon has been director of the state Education Department since 1997. Simon says he is honored by the opportunity and looks forward to serving school children throughout the country as well as in Arkansas. If confirmed, Simon would likely leave before the state finishes making education reforms ordered by the state Supreme Court. Simon says if he does leave before that process is over, he will continue to do whatever he can to keep it moving toward a successful conclusion. Governor Huckabee said during the summer that a departure by Simon would be hard to deal with. Posted by Mike Hellgren