Education

Alaska's deputy education commissioner announces retirement

Morse became the department's deputy commissioner in 2008. He started his Alaska teaching career in 1986 in Hooper Bay and later taught at Juneau-Douglas High School. He was the principal at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School in Juneau and joined the state's education department in 2003 as the director of assessment, accountability and information management, according to the department's website.

As deputy commissioner, Morse supervises six directors and a staff of 215, according to the education department.

Morse's boss, Commissioner Mike Hanley, will also leave his position on Tuesday. Hanley offered his resignation during a meeting in early February with Gov. Bill Walker and James Fields, chair of the state board of education. Hanley told The Associated Press the board was going in a different direction that required a new commissioner.

Susan McCauley, director of the department's teaching and learning support division, will serve as interim commissioner while the board searches for a new commissioner.

McCauley would have the authority to name a new deputy commissioner or interim deputy commissioner, subject to approval by the board and governor, education department spokesman Eric Fry said in an email.

Morse did not respond to a call Friday morning about his retirement.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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