NYSUT leaders congratulated Merryl H. Tisch on her election as chancellor of the state Board of Regents, saying she has impressed educators with her strong advocacy for what children need to succeed.

"Merryl Tisch has demonstrated a keen understanding and passion for what teachers do and schools need in order to continue raising standards and driving improvement," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.

"We expect her to be, like Chancellor (Robert) Bennett, a strong advocate for investing in public schools, especially those high-need school districts where we are making substantial progress toward ending the achievement gap."

NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira, who is the union's front-line advocate to the Board of Regents and State Education Department, has met regularly with Tisch for many years.

Neira described Tisch as "a true collaborator and partner who works tirelessly to make good policies that benefit students and all educators."

NYSUT believes Tisch will be "a fierce advocate for good teaching and for programs that help students achieve at the very highest levels," Neira said. "We look forward to continuing to work closely with her as chancellor."

Neira noted that Tisch is the first woman to serve as chancellor of the nation's oldest continuously operating state education entity.

With women making up 70 percent of the teaching field, "it's especially inspiring to see this 'first' in the great history of education in New York state," Neira said.

As chancellor, Tisch chairs the 17-member state policymaking board. She succeeds Robert Bennett of Buffalo, who stepped down as chancellor but remains on the board.

Tisch said the board's first order of business will be to complete a "wide and exhaustive" search for a successor to Commissioner Richard Mills, who retires in June.

She also:

• vowed to raise standards for all children and hold districts accountable, while providing the support necessary to get that done. 
• called for finding new ways to recruit the best and brightest into teaching and keep them there with an openness to alternate routes to certification and experiments to reward excellence. 
• pledged to find ways to increase the number of excellent teachers working in schools with students who need extra help, including black and Latino students, English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

Tisch has served as a Regent for 13 years, the last two as vice chancellor. The Regents chose Milton Cofield of Rochester to replace her in the post.

Tisch was a member of the Governor's Commission on Property Tax Relief but abstained from the commmission's recommendations. The Manhattanite once taught first grade in a New York City private school.

In addition, two new Regents were elected by the state Legislature: Christine Cea, a disabilities expert, will serve the newly created 13th Judicial District in Staten Island.

Wade Norwood, a health administrator with extensive political experience, was selected as a member-at-large to fill the seat vacated by the retiring Arnold Gardner of Buffalo.