U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today congratulated Cheri Yecke, director of the department's Teacher Quality and Public School Choice program, on being named the Minnesota Commissioner of Education:

"Cheri Yecke has played a critical role in our efforts to implement the No Child Left Behind Act. Her experience and dedication to America's children have made all the difference as we worked to ensure that all children receive a quality education and that we leave no child behind.

"All of us at the Department of Education wish Cheri much success as she embarks on this exciting new endeavor. Our loss is truly Minnesota's gain."

"It has been an honor to serve the Bush administration and to have been a part of this exciting time of renewed national focus on education," Yecke said. "I look forward to serving Gov. Pawlenty and the people of Minnesota as we continue on the path of genuine education reform."

As director of teacher quality and public school choice, Yecke was responsible for the department's $2.85 billion program of teacher quality grants to states and also oversaw the Title I public school choice and supplemental service provisions. In addition, she developed guidance and provided technical assistance to states as they implemented the No Child Left Behind Act.

For a period of time, Yecke was detailed to the White House to assist the USA Freedom Corps with developing a mentoring initiative.

Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Yecke was the secretary of education for K-12, Commonwealth of Virginia. From 1995-98, she was a member of the Virginia State Board of Education and from 1994-96 was a member of former Virginia Gov. George Allen's Champion Schools Commission.

A graduate of the University of Hawaii, Yecke earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate from the University of Virginia.

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