Susan Banks, Deupty Secretary and State Librarian
Dear Colleagues –
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is pleased to share the messages below about changes in leadership within Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). We are excited to work with Dr. Rowe and will continue to share messages that support the educational ecosystem in our state.
As state budget hearings begin, please know that we will continue to seek additional support for the work that all libraries, library staff and trustees do for your communities and all Pennsylvanians.
Thank you,
Susan Banks, MLIS | Deputy Secretary & State Librarian
Office of Commonwealth Libraries | Pennsylvania Department of Education
607 South Drive | Harrisburg PA 17120
Message from Angela Fitterer, Executive Deputy Secretary of Administration :
Dear Partner in Education,
It has been my honor to serve the Department as Interim Acting Secretary over the past two months, and it has been a pleasure to work with all of you in that capacity as Governor Josh Shapiro undertook his search for a new Secretary. While my time spent as Interim Acting Secretary was a humbling and fulfilling experience, I will be returning to my previous role of Executive Deputy Secretary and I am delighted to announce that our new Acting Secretary of Education will be Dr. Carrie Rowe.
A familiar face to us at PDE and many of you, Dr. Rowe has previously served as the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) providing guidance, support, and oversight to partners in the K-12 field, including school districts, approved private, and charter schools, as well as career and technical centers across the Commonwealth. Since joining the Department of Education, she also previously served as the Advisor to the Deputy Secretary and as the Director for the Bureau of School Support.
Dr. Rowe brings 25 years of public education experience to her role as Acting Secretary, having served as Superintendent of Schools in the western region of the state prior to taking a position with the Department of Education. Her career in education has been focused on fairness and justice in the allocation of resources and the elimination of institutional barriers to access and opportunity.
We look forward to continued collaboration with all of you as we continue our critical mission—serving the Commonwealth’s 1.7 million learners and their families and communities.
Thank you,
Angela Fitterer
Executive Deputy Secretary
Message from Dr. Carrie Rowe, Acting Secretary of Education:
Dear Partner in Education,
It is with gratitude that I have accepted the position of Acting Secretary of Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). I have spent three years serving the Department in various capacities, including Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Advisor to the Deputy Secretary, and as the Director for the Bureau of School Support. I thank Angela Fitterer for serving as Interim Acting Secretary while Governor Josh Shapiro undertook his search efforts, and I am happy that she will be returning to her previous role as Executive Deputy Secretary.
While we have a lot of exciting things to celebrate—like the governor’s proposed investments in public education at all levels—we also have a lot of hard work to do. Fortunately, I have full confidence in our ability to collaborate for the greater good, as we have for many years. Together, we are providing a world-class education to students from all walks of life and from all corners of the Commonwealth, all having one thing in common—they are the future of Pennsylvania. I look forward to working with you in partnership to continue our critical efforts to benefit schools, libraries, and learners across the Commonwealth.
Thank you for your efforts, and I look forward to working with you as Acting Secretary.
With gratitude,
Carrie Rowe, Ed.D.
Acting Secretary of Education
This communication is issued on the Deputy Secretary’s behalf by Carrie Cleary, Executive Assistant (ccleary@pa.gov; 717-783-5725).