The Churn

Nick Simmons, who was senior advisor to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, is now deputy chief of staff for Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.

Lisa Coons, chief academic officer in the Tennessee Department of Education, has been named Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction. Jeremy Riley, superintendent of Goochland County Public Schools, will serve as the state education department’s chief of staff.

Erica L. Green, an education reporter at The New York Times for the past six years, is leaving the beat for other projects. The Times education team now includes Sarah Mervosh and Troy Clossen.

David P. Cleary, who was Republican staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, has joined DLA Piper’s public affairs practice as a senior policy advisor.

Kathy Chow, director of  communications and development for CivicWell and a former executive director of the Asian American Journalists Association, has been named executive director of Education Writers Association.

Gabriella Gómez, deputy director of U.S. policy and finance for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is joining Strada Education Network as executive vice president of policy, advocacy, and communications.

Chad Aldis, vice president for Ohio policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, has been named director of the Iowa Department of Education.

Garry W. Jenkins, currently dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School, has been named president of Bates College.