One month after layoffs, superintendent reorganizes top staff at state education agency

In an email to colleagues, Johnson said he was "taking major steps" toward his goals of "bold innovation and true urgency" at the agency by creating a new deputy superintendent structure that reports only to him.

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Among the biggest changes is the promotion of Eric Hall, who previously served as superintendent of the Innovative School District. Now as the new deputy superintendent of innovation, he will be in charge of the ISD, the Office of Charter Schools, career and technical education, curriculum and instruction, accountability, and federal programs.

Maria Pitre-Martin, who the superintendent says "has been invaluable to me and to the department," will remain in her position as deputy superintendent for district support. Her group will include the new regional district support, the new educator recruitment and support, and other divisions that assist school districts and educators.

40 state education staffers laid off, 21 vacant positions eliminated

A new deputy superintendent of operations position will relieve the other deputies from dealing with the department’s procurement, contracts, IT, HR and other operational matters, according to the agency. A hire has not been announced for that position yet.

Pamela Shue will remain deputy superintendent for early education.

Alexis Schauss will fill a new position as the chief school business officer.

Stacy Wilson-Norman will be the division director for curriculum and instruction.

Johnson also plans to fill two new positions – director of educational technology and director of educator recruitment – using $700,000 lawmakers gave him to staff his office. Each position will be paid $115,000 a year.

Johnson's chief of staff, Lindsey Wakely, recently left to take a position with the State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. Chloe Gossage, the superintendent's senior legislative director and chief budget advisor, is serving as interim chief of staff.

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Johnson thanked his staff for their patience, saying he knows "there has been a significant amount of change at DPI over the past 18 months."

"I appreciate all the work staff and local districts have done while these shifts, sometimes painful and sometimes merely distracting, have played out around us. I sincerely hope that we are at a point where we can begin to focus on urgently driving the innovation our system needs to truly fulfill the educational aspirations of educators, parents, and students," he wrote.