Education chief announces retirement plans

Her love for children won't stop.

Announcing her retirement Friday, State Superintendent Patti Harrington says she plans to spend time with her nieces and nephews, maybe write a book and share her expertise in education any way she can.

"Kids are a real joy. The love and respect I feel for educators is real," said Harrington, 56, of Orem. She will leave the State Education Office July 1.

She began her career as a bus driver in Provo School District and worked her way up the ladder, stepping up to oversee public education for Utah in June 2004.

"Education has been my life for 32 years," she said. "I want to sprint across the finish line."

In an emotional speech to the State Board of Education Friday, Harrington said, "People in this office are wonderful. They are great leaders. They are great people. Good friends."

State Board chairwoman Debra Roberts said tearfully, "Our loss today is not only the loss of the state board but of education. We appreciate this great woman."

The board will immediately begin a hiring process, starting with advertising the position nationally, including on education-related Web sites.

The plan is to accept applications until late April, have preliminary interviews in early May and hire a new state education boss by the end of May.

There will be a goodbye celebration for the state superintendent, but details were not announced.

Harrington said her decision to retire had nothing to do with her health — which is fine — or the current state budget crisis, which isn't fine, but not a reason to leave. In fact, Harrington said she prolonged her retirement decision to see the State Office through the 2009 legislative session and state budget cuts that have been mandated.

"You bet," she said. "I wanted to provide some help in solving the budget crisis, rather than jump out and leave it to someone. We have two to three years before we will pull out of this budget situation and that is longer than I would like to stay."

Harrington had viral meningitis in 2005 and recovered. During last year's legislative session, she suffered an auto accident on I-15 during her daily commute to Salt Lake City with no serious physical results.

Harrington started in Provo District as a bus driver and then became a special education teacher, working her way through college.

She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University, then a doctorate at the University of Utah. "I cheer for both," she said.