Delaware Secretary of Education Susan Bunting will leave her post in December, capping a career of nearly five decades in public education in the First State.
Her successor has not been chose, Gov. John Carney said in a Wednesday press release announcing her departure.
Bunting became the secretary of education in 2017. She had spent the previous four decades in the Indian River School District, where she began in 1977 as a language arts teacher and later became superintendent from 2006-2017.
She has not announced her next steps but intends to remain involved in educator training and development, the press release said.
“Susan has spent a lifetime dedicated to public education in Delaware, and the people of our state have been lucky to have her at the helm,” Carney said in the release. “No one has made a bigger impact than Susan on preparing the next generation of Delaware educators and helping them grow into effective teacher-leaders. Most importantly, I want to thank Susan for her tireless dedication to Delaware’s students, especially those most in need. Her public service and dedication to the success of all Delaware children is unmatched.”
At the Department of Education, Bunting oversaw the creation and expansion of Opportunity Funding, Delaware’s first weighted student funding program. The program targets support for low-income and English learner students.
Over the past 19 months, she oversaw the Department’s efforts to vaccinate thousands of educators and child care providers, while helping districts and charter schools continue to educate children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before her confirmation in 2017, Dr. Bunting led Indian River School district, one of the state’s largest school districts, serving more than 11,000 students. She had taught in Maryland for several years, she joined Indian River in 1977.
It’s not unusual for cabinet secretaries to move on in a governor’s second term.
In the last 18 months:
Former Secretary Jennifer Cohan left her post to work at Leadership Delaware, to be replaced by Nicole Majewski.
Housing Secretary Anas Ben Addi left to work at Delaware State University and was replaced by Eugene Young.
Labor Secretary Cerron Cade moved to the Office of Management and Budget, replacing Mike Jackson, who went to Delaware Technical Community College. Labor is now led by Karryl Hubbard.
Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker left and was replaced by Molly Margarik.
Corrections Commissioner Claire DeMatteis moved to Carney’s office to handle COVID-19 funds. She was replaced by Monroe B. Hudson Jr.
Human Resources head Amy Bonner has left her post to work at Caesar Rodney School District. Jessilene Corbett, deputy secretary, is serving as an interim secretary.
Chief Information Officer James Collins left for private industry and was replaced by Jason Clarke.
