Records of the Office of the Secretary of Education, 2001-2010 (bulk 2005-2009)

Location of collection:

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia

800 East Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Contact for questions and access:

POC: Archives Reference Services

Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov

Phone: (804) 692-3888

Web: www.lva.virginia.gov

Summary

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

The Records of the Virginia Secretary of Education are housed in fifty three (53 boxes). The collection is arranged into eight (8) series. Series have been designated for: I. Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, Assigned State Agencies, 2002-2010; II. Constituent Correspondence, 2006-2010; III. Office of the Secretary, 2001-2009 (bulk 2006-2009); IV. Weekly Report Files, 2006-2009; V. Decision Briefs: Supporting Documentation, 2008-2010; VI. Public Relations, 2006-2009; VII. Legislative Files, 2007; and VIII. Special Projects and Governor's Initiatives, 2002-2010. These records include agendas, articles, briefings, correspondence, e-mails, grants, handouts, legislation, lists, memorandums, minutes, notes, presentations, press releases, reports, speeches, studies, surveys and files by subject. These records document the work of the Secretary of Education under Governor Tim Kaine. The most significant and voluminous material documents the development and implementation of the various educational initiatives of the Kaine Administration including: P-16 Council, Start Strong Council, Smart Beginnings, High School Reform (NGA Honors States Grant and Commonwealth Scholars), and Teacher Quality.

Biographical / historical:

In 1970, the Governor's Management Commission Study recommended the creation of six "Deputy Governors" assist the Chief Executive in his managerial duties, compatible functions of government were grouped under these administrative heads, who would serve as the Governors top management team or "secretariats," as they are called now. The General Assembly in 1972 created six Secretariats positions initially. As government reorganized, that number fluctuated when government agencies expanded or consolidated.

The Secretary of Education assists the Governor in the development and implementation of the state's education policy. The secretary provides guidance to 16 colleges and universities, the Virginia Community College System, five higher education and research centers, the Department of Education, the state-supported museums, and other agencies in the Education Secretariat. All secretaries are appointed by the governor and serve at his will.

During the Administration of Governor Timothy M. Kaine (2006-2010) the Secretary of Education directed policy for education programs that involve multiple agencies including: Department of Education, Library of Virginia, Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, Gunston Hall, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Science Museum of Virginia and Virginia Commission for the Arts. While Virginia's Colleges and Universities are semi-autonomous, the Secretary of Education also plays a role in directing state policy for: Virginia Community Colleges, Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Mary Washington University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, Richard Bland College, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, College of William and Mary, Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, and State Council of Higher Education.

Some of Governor Kaine's education initiatives were: early childhood initiatives, high school reform initiatives, Achieve: American Diploma Project, and teacher quality.

On 6 January 2006, Governor-elect Tim Kaine named Dr. Thomas Morris as Secretary of Education. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Morris served as the president of Emory and Henry College for 13 1/2 years. A distinguished Constitutional scholar and political scientist, he was a distinguished faculty member at the University of Richmond for 21 years.

A native of Galax, Virginia, Secretary Morris earned a bachelor's degree in government at Virginia Military Institute, studied at Princeton University, then completed master's and doctoral degrees in government at the University of Virginia. He received fellowships for additional advanced study including a year as a Liberal Arts Fellow at the Harvard Law School and a year as a fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

During his teaching career at the University of Richmond, Dr. Morris was selected to leadership posts and honored for excellence in the classroom. He was honored as a University Distinguished Educator, received many faculty research grants, and served as chair of the Faculty Council.

Secretary Morris is widely known as an expert on Virginia government and politics. He is the author or co-author of four books, including Virginia Government and Politics: Readings and Comments, Fourth Revised Edition, a 1998 work co-edited with Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia. He co-authored a chapter entitled "Republicans Surge in the Competitive Dominion" in a book published by LSU Press, Southern Politics in the 1990s. He also wrote a chapter on Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder for a nationally circulated book entitled Governors and Hard Times, published in 1992 by Congressional Quarterly Press, and in 1994 a chapter on Virginia and the Voting Rights Act in Quiet Revolution in the South, Princeton University Press. Dr. Morris has written an additional 17 major articles or book chapters.

Dr. Morris was well known as a political analyst for television, radio, and print media over a period of twenty-five years. He chaired the Commission on Virginia's State and Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century (1999-2000) and was a member of Governor Warner's Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness (2002). [biography from the Virginia Secretary of Education archived website]

Acquisition information:

Office of the Secretary of Education, Patrick Henry Building, 1111 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. Accession 44681 transferred and accessioned on 12 January 2010.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

• I. Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, Assigned State Agencies, 2002-2010;

• II. Constituent Correspondence, 2006-2010;

• III. Office of the Secretary, 2001-2009 (bulk 2006-2009):
• Subseries A. Correspondence of Secretary Thomas R. Morris, 2001-2009 (bulk 2006-2009);
• Subseries B. Files of Judy Heiman, Deputy Secretary of Education, 2003-2007;
• Subseries C. Files of Dietra Trent, Deputy Secretary of Education, 2005-2009;
• Subseries D. Files of Jean Bankos, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Educational Projects, 2001-2009;
• Subseries E. Files of Kendall Tyree, Special Assistant to the Secretary, 2002, 2005-2007;

• IV. Weekly Report Files, 2006-2009;

• V. Decision Briefs: Supporting Documentation, 2008-2010;

• VI. Public Relations, 2006-2009;

• VII. Legislative Files, 2007;

• VIII. Special Projects and Governor's Initiatives, 2002-2010:
• Subseries A. Virginia's P-16 Education Council, 2006-2009;
• Subseries B. Early Childhood Initiatives, 2002-2009;
• Subseries C. High School Reform Initiatives, 2002-2007;
• Subseries D. Achieve: American Diploma Project (ADP), 2006-2008;
• Subseries E. Workforce Development, 2006-2010;
• Subseries F. Teacher Quality, 2006

Physical description:

31.69 cu. ft. (53 boxes).

Related

Related material:

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-TIM KAINE

A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine Administration Electronic Files, Email, 2002-2010 (bulk 2006-2009).The Secretary of Education Electronic Files series documents the electronic communication of the office during the Kaine administration. This series contains 27002 emails in ten (10) subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Thomas Morris Email; B. Judith Heiman Email; C. Dietra Trent Email; D. Douglas Garcia Email; E. Jean Bankos Email; F. Kathy Glazer Email; G. Kendall Tyree Email; H. June Hines Email; I. Lorraine Lintecum Email; and J. Nicholas Galvin Email. There are 14 protected and confidential emails that are restricted from public access per Code of Virginia, 42-1-78. The Library of Virginia Email Project - Governor Tim Kaine Portal provides access to the Kaine email collection and includes guides to other Kaine administration records.

The Governor Tim Kaine Administration Web Archive Collection, 2006-2010 contains archived versions of websites for the Governor's Office, his initiative sites, and the sites of his cabinet secretaries. Also included are the related sites for the First Lady (Anne Holton), as well as the Lt. Governor (Bill Bolling), and Attorney General (Bob McDonnell and William C. Mims), two statewide officials elected in the same cycle as Governor Kaine.

The Timothy M. Kaine Administration (2006-2010) Cabinet Weekly Reports Digital Collection contains the weekly reports submitted to the Governor and Chief of Staff by the Governor's Cabinet, including the Secretaries of Administration (Viola Baskerville), Agriculture and Forestry (Robert S. Bloxom), Commerce and Trade (Patrick O. Gottschalk), Commonwealth (Daniel C. LeBlanc, Jan-Mar. 2006 and Katherine K. Hanley (Mar. 2006-2010), Education (Dr. Thomas R. Morris), Finance (Jody Wagner, 2006-2008 and Richard D. Brown, 2008-2010), Health and Human Resources (Marilyn Tavenner), Natural Resources (Preston Bryant), Public Safety (John W. Marshall), Technology (Aneesh Chopra, 2006-2009 and Leonard M. Pomata, 2009-2010), and Transportation (Pierce Homer). Also included are reports by the Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness (Robert Crouch), Office of Constituent Services (Marc Cheatham, 2006-2007 and Amber Amato, 2007-2010), Press Office, Policy Office and Virginia Liaison Office. Reports were submitted each Thursday and placed in a binder for the Governor that he took with him at the end of the day on Friday. A second copy of the report was made for the Chief of Staff. The level of detail varied for each cabinet officer and items of importance were highlighted by staff for the Governor. Each report contains information on legislation, Governor's initiatives/special projects, agency matters/operations, events/agency visits, audits/investigations/compliance, stakeholder issues and pending decisions. Governor Kaine wrote handwritten notes and/or marked-up some reports with post-it notes and requested follow up information from the person submitting the report. Those questions and answers are included in this series. This series provides a weekly account of the issues and policy decisions of the Kaine Administration.

The Executive Orders Digital Collection includes 110 executive orders and 9 executive directives issued by Governor Kaine.

A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Policy Office, Records, 2002-2010 (bulk 2006-2009). The Policy Office Records of Governor Timothy M. Kaine are housed in 174 boxes. The collection is arranged into five (5) series. Series have been designated for: I. Decision Briefs; II. Regulations; III. Legislative Files; IV. Executive Orders and Directives; and V. Policy Analyst Files. These records include agendas, decision briefs, correspondence, memorandums, legislative files, briefing books, meeting notes, subject files, reports, talking points and regulations. These records document the legislative and policy priorities of the Kaine administration (2006-2010). This collection also includes records from Governor Mark Warner's administration (2002-2006).

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-MARK WARNER

Several of Governor Kaine's education initiatives (teacher quality and high school reform) began during the administration of Governor Mark Warner (2002-2006). Researchers should also review A Guide to the Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Education, 1998-2006.