SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah State Board of Education appointed Orem resident Patti Harrington as State Superintendent of Public Instruction on Wednesday. Harrington, the former associate state superintendent for Student Achievement and School Success, is the second woman, and the first in more than a century, to hold the position. Her appointment is immediate.

"I am thrilled to serve the students of Utah and to work with parents, teachers and administrators as well as Board members to ensure a quality education for all," Harrington said.

Harrington replaces Steven O. Laing who retired from the position in March. She was picked following a nationwide search that generated 17 candidates from five states.

As associate superintendent for Student Achievement and School Success at the Utah State Office of Education, Harrington oversaw the Curriculum and Instruction, Evaluation and Assessment, Applied Technology Education and Special Programs sections. Before coming to the Utah State Office of Education, Harrington was superintendent of the Provo School District in Provo, Utah, and before that, principal of Provo High School. She was named Secondary School Principal of the Year in 1997. She earned her Ed.D in educational administration in 1996 at the University of Utah.

As state superintendent, Harrington will oversee the 486,938-student, 820-school public education system in Utah.

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