Education

Alaska education department will have a new deputy commissioner

Sana Efird, assistant commissioner at the state health department, has been named the new deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. She will start Dec. 1, said a statement Thursday from the education department.

Efird will serve as a top official in the department under Education Commissioner Michael Johnson.

Johnson, who started as commissioner July 1, selected Efird for the deputy job, pending approval by the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development. She will replace Betty Walters who served as interim deputy commissioner since March, when Les Morse retired.

Efird has served as the assistant commissioner for Finance and Management Services at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services since November 2012.

She has a bachelor's degree in education from the University of South Carolina and a master's degree in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary's University in Minnesota, according to her resume.

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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