A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Tirozzi is considered a leader in education improvement. Before his appointment at Education, Tirozzi was a tenured professor at the University of Connecticut's Department of Education Leadership, concentrating on urban education issues, education policy and the preparation of school superintendents.

He was Connecticut's commissioner of education for eight years, where he initiated major teaching and education improvement reforms, and played a major leadership role in developing and implementing the Connecticut Mastery Test, a nationally recognized assessment model to promote high academic standards and performance. Tirozzi also has served as president of Wheelock College in Boston, was superintendent of the New Haven, Conn., school system and has been a teacher and principal.

As assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, Tirozzi will head seven program offices that provide funding opportunities and assistance to state and local education agencies, in order to improve public and private preschool, elementary and secondary education programs and student performance.

In this capacity, Tirozzi will serve as principal adviser to Riley on elementary and secondary school issues, including:

• Title I compensatory education programs that provide support services for children in high poverty schools, neglected and delinquent children and other at risk students;

• Goals 2000 legislation and activities to assist states and communities in developing academic and skills standards;

• Impact Aid financial assistance to compensate school districts and local education agencies for additional students due to parents' federal employment, or to offset the loss of community revenues resulting from federal use of local real estate property or facilities;

• Indian education programs to support the efforts of local education agencies, Indian tribes and other entities to meet the academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students;

• Initiatives to meet the education needs of migrant children, including transfer of student records and Migrant Even Start projects for young children and parents with low levels of literacy;

• Efforts to ensure that all schools are able to provide students with a drug free, disciplined and safe environment conducive to learning; and

• Programs authorized by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 to support magnet and charter schools programs and teacher development programs.

Tirozzi began his career as a science teacher in New Haven. He holds a doctorate in educational administration and higher education from Michigan State University, and has earned a master of arts degree in guidance and counseling and a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Southern Connecticut State University.

Throughout his career, Tirozzi has served on numerous boards and professional organizations, including Jobs for the Future, the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, the Education Commission of the States, and the Educational Testing Service. He is an honorary lifetime member of the PTA. His public service achievements have been recognized by Michigan State University, the Connecticut chapter of the NAACP and the Southwestern Connecticut Urban League.

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