Jillian Balow is an American politician who was appointed as the Virginia superintendent of public instruction in January 2022. She resigned from the position in March 2023. From 2014 to January 2022, she was the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction.

Jillian Balow
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 15, 2022 – March 9, 2023
GovernorGlenn Youngkin
Preceded byJames Lane
Succeeded byLisa Coons
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 15, 2022
GovernorMatt Mead
Mark Gordon
Preceded byCindy Hill
Succeeded byKari Eakins (Acting)
Personal details
Born1970 (age 53–54)
Laramie, Wyoming, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Wyoming (BA)
Regis University (MEd)

Career

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Balow was a division administrator in the Wyoming Department of Family Services.[1]

Balow was president of the Council of Chief State School Officers.[2] A Republican, she was elected as the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2014, winning 61% of the vote against Democrat Mike Ceballos.[2] During her 2014 campaign, she opposed the Common Core initiatives.[1] Balow ran unopposed in 2018.[2] Her last day as the Wyoming superintendent was January 16, 2022.[3]

In January 2022, Balow was appointed by governor Glenn Youngkin as the Virginia superintendent of public instruction.[3] She succeeded acting Virginia superintendent Rosa Atkins.[2]

On March 1, 2023, Balow announced her resignation as Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction, effective March 9. Balow's tenure at VDOE was marked with high-profile fights over issues including revised state standards for history education and the treatment of transgender students in schools.[4]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Graff 2014, p. G6.
  2. ^ a b c d The Virginian-Pilot 2022.
  3. ^ a b Eavis 2022, p. A1.
  4. ^ Times-Dispatch, ANNA BRYSON Richmond. "Youngkin's Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow resigns". The Daily Progress. Retrieved 2023-03-01.

Bibliography

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Political offices
Preceded by
James Lane
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Cindy Hill
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
2015–2022
Succeeded by