Chad Aldis, a native Iowan and former student of Camanche, East Central (now Easton Valley), and Clinton Community school districts, has been appointed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to lead the Iowa Department of Education.
Mr. Aldis will take the helm as director beginning Wednesday, March 15, the governor’s office announced in a Wednesday, March 8, news release.
For the past 20 years, his career has been focused on education reform. His experience encompasses education policy, advocacy and research, and spans multiple states.
Most recently, Mr. Aldis was vice president for Ohio policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, where he led the organization’s efforts to successfully reform Ohio’s high school graduation requirements, state report cards and charter school laws. In that role, he partnered regularly with the governor’s office, legislators, and the department of education to strengthen state policy on literacy, school funding, and private school choice.
“Chad is the type of leader we need at this pivotal time for Iowa’s education system,” Ms. Reynolds said in the release. “His unique perspective will help lead reform within the department and across our schools so that every Iowa student – regardless of what school they attend – receives a quality education that prepares them to be successful in life.
“It’s been 30 years since Iowa led the nation in math scores, ranking first among eighth graders and second for fourth graders in 1992,” she added. “In 2022, we ranked above the national average, but Iowa students and families deserve better. By innovating our education system and renewing our focus on academic instruction and performance, I’m confident that Iowa schools and students will again lead the way.”
A fourth-generation Iowan, Mr. Aldis was born and raised in eastern Iowa, graduated from Clinton High School in 1990, and was named to the Des Moines Register’s First Team Academic All-State. He began his college career at the University of Northern Iowa before transferring to the University of Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. He also holds a law degree from Florida State University.
“I’m honored to accept this opportunity to serve the students of Iowa,” Mr. Aldis added. “The governor’s unwavering commitment to ensuring all children are provided with a quality education that fits their needs is a vision I share and one that will drive the department’s work.”
He credited much of his success to his own Iowa education. “We need to make sure that today’s students have the same opportunities to pursue their dreams,” Mr. Aldis said. “That starts with all students leaving high school with the reading, math, and civics knowledge and skills to prepare them for either college or a career.”
He and his wife will move to Des Moines. They have three adult children.
