July 27, 2001 – Sen. Vargrave Richards has been selected as vice chair of the Education Commission of the States.
Richards was named to the post at the ECS National Forum on Education Policy held in Philadelphia July 18-21. He will serve under Gov. Kenny Guinn of Nevada, who became the new commission chair at the same meeting. Each year a different governor chairs the not-for-profit body, with political parties alternating.
"It's a great opportunity to meet with people across the nation and see what resources we can draw from them," Richards said. "There's a myriad of programs taking place at ECS. It's a think-tank type organization with a substantial amount of research."
A member of the commission since 1995, Richards was recently named to its executive committee by the outgoing chair, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. He is a former teacher on St. Croix and served seven terms as vice president of the district local of the American Federation of Teachers. The five-term legislator developed the V.I. Commission on Education in 1995 and currently chairs the Senate Youth and Human Services Committee.
"The issues with young people across the nation are the same as ours: how to reach them, to make contact and nurture them," Richards said.
He was conspicuous by his absence from the day-into-night session of the Legislature on July 19 that concluded with approval of an amendment-laden version of the governor's supplemental appropriations bill. The only senator not on the floor, he had been excused from attending the full-Senate session because he was keeping his earlier commitment to attend the ECS national forum.
Formed in 1965, the commission helps governors, legislators and education officials develop and implement policies to improve student learning at all levels. For further information about the organization, visit its web site at www.ecs.org.
