(TNS) Gov. Tom Wolf has pledged to make education a priority, and for his top education official, he's tapped a bilingual educator who brought national recognition to an urban, once-struggling school district.

Pedro Rivera, former superintendent of the Lancaster School District, will take over the Education Department at a time when teachers and administrators are feeling resentment toward the state for budget reductions that led to staff and program cuts in schools.Rivera, 42, wants to fix that."I want to work with educators, school leaders and policy makers to restore Pennsylvania's confidence in our public education system," he said.Rivera and his administration built up the district's fund balance from $4 million to $9 million at a time when other districts across the state cut to the bone. Academically, under Rivera, test scores rose in Lancaster and graduation rates climbed.Last fall, the White House honored Rivera as one of the 10 Hispanic leaders in education across the country. Rivera called the event a humbling experience.As superintendent, Rivera was outspoken on state funding. In fall 2014, Lancaster and five other districts, inclduing Panther Valley, sued the state, claiming inadequate funding. After being tapped by Wolf, Rivera removed himself from the lawsuit.Rivera has stood out from other district leaders, said William Hite, superintendent of the Philadelphia School District."He understands the impact of poverty and underrepresented children," Hite said.Rivera, whose promotion must be approved by the state Senate, understands the value of good teachers.Growing up in North Philadelphia in a family that struggled financially, Rivera said he grappled academically early on. But with the help of a ninth-grade algebra teacher, he rose from the bottom of the class to tutoring other students. That sparked his passion for teaching, he said.He answered questions last week:Q. What do you think your background brings that is different from previous state education leaders?A. I have firsthand knowledge of how education can be the great equalizer for students. I grew up in a high-poverty neighborhood of North Philadelphia, and was one of the few high school graduates in my family and the first college graduate. Regardless of the financial resources of a student's parents or guardians, an excellent education can put every student on a level playing field and put them on the path for future success.I also believe that my time as an educator and administrator in the Philadelphia School District and the School District of Lancaster has given me a great appreciation for how the support of the community can greatly affect the success of an entire school. Educating our young people is not just the responsibility of the teachers and principals. ... We all should take part because the success of our students in school will have a great impact on their future and the future of this commonwealth. I believe we need to support the "whole student" and to do that we need not only great schools but engaged communities.Q. Gov. Wolf has pledged more money to education, but with the state having a $2 billion deficit, how likely do you think it is that districts will see an increase in state funding?A. Gov. Wolf is committed to providing additional revenue for Pennsylvania's public schools through the enactment of a severance tax on natural gas. With that being said, the governor will present his plan for the 2015-16 budget on March 3. Following Gov. Wolf's address to the people of the commonwealth, I believe we will have a better picture of what schools can expect next year.Q. Do you think the new teacher evaluations are an effective tool?A. Having a transparent means for evaluating an educator's effectiveness in the classroom and a school leader's effectiveness on schoolwide management is helpful in providing continuity among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. The word "evaluation" often has a negative connotation and it is true that an evaluation can bring to light deficiencies and areas that need to be worked on ... but this is not necessarily a bad thing. We all need additional supports and training throughout our careers and educators are no different. Evaluations pinpoint what professional development opportunities would best support certain educators and provide opportunities for growth. Evaluative tools should never be used to single out or embarrass an educator, and should not be the singular factor in the retention of an educator.On a more positive note, evaluations also shine a spotlight on the countless exceptional educators working in our schools who may otherwise go unnoticed.Distributed by TribuneContent Agency LLC