January 2018 President Donald Trump announced the appointment of James Lynn Woodworth to serve as Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on January 4. He will be serving as the first permanent NCES commissioner since 2014. During this time, Peggy Carr has served as acting commissioner.
In a statement, AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine said:
“We have long sought the appointment of a highly experienced leader and expert in this field. Although Dr. James Woodworth is relatively new to and not well known in the research, statistics, and data community, his exposure to and use of data assets like the statewide longitudinal data systems at CREDO and his work experiences in particular as a public school teacher should serve him well in this role. We at AERA and in the larger education statistics and data community seek to work with Dr. Woodworth to ensure a continued commitment to the important principles and tenets of leading a statistical agency like NCES with the high integrity required in data collection and reporting. “
Woodworth will arrive at NCES from the Center for Research on Educational Outcomes at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas, and has previous experience in education as a music teacher.