Dive Brief:
- Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe announced his choice for state education secretary Friday, with former judge Anne Holton filling the seat.
- The choice came as a surprise to political insiders and education advocates in attendance at a morning news conference.
- Holton is also the wife of Sen. Timothy M. Kaine, a former governor of the state.
Dive Insight:
Holton is a solid choice to oversee the state's education system. With three of her children attending public schools in Richmond and Holton describing herself as a product of the state's public school system, K-12 in Virginia should be well taken care of. Prior to being named state education secretary today, Holton was serving as director of Great Expectations — a program focused on getting students into community colleges, which Gov.-elect McAuliffe sees as a critical element in retraining unemployed workers and helping recent high school graduates get a degree.