educator
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching.
''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...
from
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
. Hudecki was appointed by Governor of OklahomaMary Fallin to serve as her Secretary of Education. As Secretary, Hudecki oversees all aspects of elementary and secondary education, vocational education and higher education for the State.
Biography
Originally from
Morris, Oklahoma
Morris is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,494 at the 2010 census, an increase of 14.3% from the figure of 1,294 recorded in 2000.
History
The community began as a cattle stop on the Ozark and Cherokee Centr ...
, Hudecki received her bachelor's degree and doctorate degree from Oklahoma State University. She received an educational specialist degree in education administration from the
University of Missouri-Kansas City
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which r ...
and a master's degree in education from the University of Connecticut.
Hudecki began her career in education as a teacher in
Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich ( ) (also called "The Rose of New England") is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River flows south to Long ...
and served as an assistant principal at a technical high school in
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...
. She has held various positions with Iowa, Missouri and Massachusetts state departments of education and with the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. In 1991, Hudecki joined the University of California-Berkeley as an associate director of the National Center for Research in Vocational Education.
Hudecki joined the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition (OBEC) as that organization's Executive Director. OBEC is an organization supported by CEO's from 30 business across Oklahoma that develop policies to improve education in the State. Many of these policies have focused on establishing state curriculum standards, reviewing state tests and evaluating the State's education accountability policy.
On November 23, 2010, Governor-elect Mary Fallin announced that she will nominate Hudecki to serve as
Oklahoma Secretary of Education
The Oklahoma Secretary of Education is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief ad ...
. Her appointment will require confirmation by the
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution.Governor-elect Mary Fallin Selects Phyllis Hudecki as Secretary of Education Office of Governor-elect Mary Fallin, 11-23-10 Fallin Names Education Secretary Tulsa World, by Barbara Hoberock, 11-23-10