INDIANAPOLIS (July 19, 2006) ? Governor Mitch Daniels today named four new members to the Indiana State Board of Education. The appointments include two principals, a teacher and a businessman with experience in varied areas of K-12 education.

The governor?s appointments to the board are:
? Dr. Gwendolyn Griffith-Adell of Gary, director of the Thea Bowman Leadership Academy and former assistant principal of Merrillville Intermediate School.
? Vicki Snyder of Evansville, executive director and principal of the Signature School.
? Stephen Gabet of Grabill, history and government teacher at Leo Junior/Senior High School and former state representative. He also serves on the Indiana Education Roundtable.
? David Shane of Indianapolis, president of LDI, Ltd., and senior adviser for education and employment in the Office of the Governor. He will leave his position in the governor?s office effective July 31. Shane will continue his work with communities on high school redesign.

?The three educators I?ve appointed share a commitment to students and to results. They are dedicated to learning and to creating environments that maximize student success,? said Daniels. ?This group brings decades of experience in Indiana schools, minds open to creating better ways of educating Hoosiers, and enthusiasm for a state structure that supports rather than regulates those efforts.?

The appointments of Griffith-Adell, Snyder and Gabet are effective immediately; Shane?s appointment is effective Aug. 1.

?All Hoosiers owe special thanks to Dave Shane for extending his volunteer service in the cause of better education. He has a great heart for our kids and a quiet determination to see them achieve steadily better results that get them ready for the tough, competitive world they will enter,? said the governor.

Shane will serve as the at-large member of the board; Daniel Elsener will become the board member representing the 7th Congressional District. The four new appointees will replace Danny Tanoos of Terre Haute, Connie Blacketter of Rensselaer, Susan Brace of Fort Wayne and Randle Pollard of Indianapolis, whose terms have expired.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed chairs the state board. The 10 other members must represent each of the state?s congressional districts. No more than six of the 10 appointed members may be from the same political party, and at least four must be educators.