Governor-elect Carney picks education, environment secretaries

Delaware Governor-elect John Carney named his picks to lead the Department of Education and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. 

 

Education and the environment are sure to be two challenging areas over the next four years for Carney. A major overhaul of Wilmington schools has drawn lots of debate in recent years, as has changes to the way students and teachers are evaluated. Challenges on the environmental front include the latest approval for the Delaware City refinery to export more ethanol via the Delaware River, while at the same time, the state considers penalties for the refinery for exporting crude oil outside of its permit limitations.

To address the challenges facing state schools, Carney has named Indian River School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Bunting to be Delaware’s next Secretary of Education. Bunting has worked in the district since 1977 when she started as a teacher. In the year’s since, she’s also worked as supervisor of elementary instruction and the K-12 director of instruction. As superintendent, she was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year award given by the American Association of School Administrators.

“Susan is among the most knowledgeable educators in Delaware,” Carney said in a statement. “She will help us refocus the Department of Education as a support agency to help districts keep high-quality teachers in the classroom and better address the needs of their students.”

Carney also nominated Shawn Garvin to be the next Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. In 2009, Garvin was appointed Regional Administrator for Region III of the EPA by President Obama. That region includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Prior to that appointment, Garvin worked as a senior state and congressional liaison for the EPA Region III office. He’s also worked as an aide to then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden.

“Protecting our environment, addressing the threat of climate change and cleaning up Delaware’s waterways will be a focus of the next four years,” Carney said in a statement. “There is nobody better prepared to lead that work than Shawn.”

All cabinet nominees still must be confirmed by the State Senate.