Rowan?s Education Institute Director Reappointed to State BOE

July 15, 2004

Dr. Ronald K. Butcher, executive director of Rowan University?s Education Institute, was recently reappointed to his third term on the New Jersey State Board of Education. Originally appointed to the Board in 1990 by then-Gov. James J. Florio, Butcher begins his 15th year of public service on the Board after reappointment by Gov. James E. McGreevey.

The State Board of Education is responsible for the general supervision and control of public education for the 2,500 schools in New Jersey, which serve nearly 1.4 million public school students. It is composed of 13 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate. A major function of the Board is the adoption of the administrative code that contains the rules for implementing education laws. The Board also confirms staff appointments to the New Jersey State Department of Education and serves a ?quasi-judicial? function by deciding legal appeals of Commissioner of Education decisions involving alleged violations of school law.

A veteran member of the Board, Butcher has served on numerous committees and held many leadership positions, most notably as vice president of the Board (1999-2003) and chairperson of the board?s Legal Committee (1998-2003). He has also been an active member of the National Association of State Boards of Education, serving two years on its Board of Directors.

Butcher began his education career in 1969 as a business education teacher in Michigan, but has been a New Jersey education administrator throughout most of his career. Past experience includes work with the Educational Information and Improvement Center in Sewell and seven years in the N.J. State Department of Education. Since 1991, he has been a Rowan Univeristy administrator, 10 as executive director of the Education Institute. Dr. Butcher holds a Ph.D. in administration and supervision from the University of Michigan.