The New York State Education Commissioner has decided not to renew the contract of Buffalo’s Distinguished Educator Judy Elliott.
State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia informed Buffalo Public School Board President James Sampson in a letter dated August 3.
WBFO News has obtained a copy of the letter from NYSED. Elia indicated she is currently assessing the Distinguished Educator Program.
“Consequently, I have decided not to immediately reappoint Dr. Judy Elliott to be the Distinguished Educator for the Buffalo Public School District upon expiration of her current contract on July 31, 2015," Elia wrote.
Judy Elliott was appointed to serve the city district by the State Education Department in 2012 by then-former Education Commissioner John King. When King appointed Elliott, the city district was forced to pay for her work at a rate of $190 per hour, plus reimbursements for travel.
WBFO aired a story titled 'Should state abolish Buffalo’s Distinguished Educator position?' July 16, where some were critical of the cost and effectiveness of the role in the city school district.
WBFO News reached out to Judy Elliott for our story in July. She declined recorded interviews saying she would prefer right now to stay out of the "fray of fire" and "politics" surrounding the position.
Elliott noted she has conducted 1,600 hours of on-site work over three years and 606 hours off site. Elliott said it the "call of the new commissioner in going forward."
