Governor's office consults State Board on Caitlin Davis nomination for education commissioner

Christopher Connolly, the governor's chief of staff, appeared before the State Board of Education on Oct. 11, 2025, to consult the board on the governor's nomination of Caitlin Davis to serve as the next education commissioner.

The nomination drew unanimous praise from board members in the session recorded in the meeting transcript. Connolly said the governor sent her "regards and apologies" and described Davis as "a highly respected state leader and public servant with a distinguished record of advancing collaboration, transparency, and accountability within the New Hampshire education system." He told the board, "Most, if not all of you, on the board know Caitlin and have had the pleasure of working with her. She's a highly respected state leader and public servant with a distinguished record of advancing collaboration, transparency, and accountability within the New Hampshire education system."

The discussion focused on Davis's background at the New Hampshire Department of Education, where Connolly said she has a 15-year career and has prioritized "partnerships with public schools across the state, ensuring that educators and district leaders are heard, supported, and empowered." Connolly said Davis brings "unmatched institutional knowledge, fiscal experience, and policy depth to the role of education commissioner." He also said she will "champion data driven, informed decision making, efficient and effective department administration, and collaborative leadership."

Several State Board members spoke in support. A board member who has known Davis through charter-school work said, "I've had years of interaction and involvement, mostly dealing with charter schools prior to my coming onto this board, working with Caitlin and the charter school team in general. They've been fantastic. So I I think she's an excellent choice." Another board member said Davis "really pays attention to the details. When we ask questions, she often has the answer off the top of her head. She really knows rules, very well... and she will give you the truth and not what you wanna hear, which I think is just really important." A different member said Davis is "amazingly competent" and "she's thinking 2 steps ahead."

Board members repeatedly described Davis as professional, prepared and confident, and suggested she is positioned to continue the department's leadership. One board member added, "Part of leadership is to be an honest sounding board and, and super professional." The current commissioner, identified in the transcript as Commissioner Edelblo, was present and received thanks during the exchange; Connolly and board members also noted the department's internal development of talent as part of the context for the nomination.

No formal vote on the nomination appears in the available transcript. At the end of the recorded discussion the board chair announced the meeting would move to a nonpublic session, citing state open-meeting law: "RSA 91-A:3 II(c)" (as stated in the transcript). The transcript does not record a motion, a second, or a roll-call vote on the nomination itself during the excerpt provided.

The consultation provides the State Board an opportunity to give feedback to the governor about the nominee; Connolly said he "look[ed] forward to delivering your feedback to the governor." The board's next formal steps on the nomination (including any vote or public action) were not included in the transcript excerpt provided.