Senate Education Committee favorably reports Diane Allen for Deputy Director post

Diane Allen, Director Dacken's nominee to be the Deputy Director of Primary and Secondary Education for the Department of Education and Workforce, appeared before the Ohio Senate Education Committee and was favorably reported to the committee on rules and reference following a unanimous roll call.

Allen told the committee she recently retired from Marysville Exempted Village School District, where she served as superintendent since 2012 and worked on common curriculum, career pathways and business partnerships. "This is a very exciting time, in my opinion, for Ohio in education and workforce policy," Allen said. She said the department is positioned to assist schools through "data analysis, high quality instruction, school improvement strategies, educator training, and partnership building."

The nomination received no committee questions. Vice Chair Blessing moved that the committee "favorably report the director's appointment of Diane M. Allen to the committee on rules and reference." The clerk called the roll and the chair announced a unanimous vote. The chair asked members to sign the voting rolls and congratulated Allen on being favorably reported.

Allen said, if confirmed, she would work with Director Dacken, Deputy Director Varner, the DeWine-Tressel administration and members of the General Assembly on K–12 initiatives. The committee concluded the appointment portion of the agenda and proceeded to bill hearings.