It was disappointing, but not surprising, to see former New York state Education Commissioner and state testing tyrant John “Common Core” King named as chancellor of the SUNY system.

What exactly has this man done to be qualified for such a position? Most school boards and superintendents across the state kissed his ring and his derriere while King and his clan over tested our children and ruined the state math and English Language Arts curriculum.

BOCES district superintendents were especially overly loyal and textbook, testing and tech companies’ pockets have been overflowing with New York state taxpayers’ dollars ever since King’s reign as state commissioner. Anyone who dared to question the Common Core King was roundly criticized and eventually silenced. The King and his successors to the throne did what the government often does in order to squash the opposition. They waited for the Common Core and testing opposition to exhaust themselves.

Why were outstanding, dedicated and experienced New York teachers leaving the profession in droves even before the pandemic? COVID-19 simply sped the retirement exodus. King moved on from his state education commissioner post to a short-lived position in the Obama administration. New York State continues his failed legacy while pushing an expensive and failing Common Core Curriculum and state testing program.

And now King resurfaces as SUNY chancellor. As education commissioner, King’s proclamation was that a Common Core Curriculum and a rigorous state testing program would make every New York state child college and career ready upon graduation from high school. As SUNY chancellor, King takes the helm of a system in crisis. SUNY is struggling to attract and retain students. First year SUNY students are relegated to remedial college classes while professors complain that high school grads are not prepared for university. New York state is now pushing for government funded apprenticeships and additional adult education because so many high school grads are not career ready. King takes over a SUNY system struggling because of the policies he implemented as the New York State Commissioner of Education. The irony is stunning. Why did they hire this guy?

His Majesty’s $750,000 salary and benefits package are another cause for concern. Should anyone going into the noble profession of public education command this type of money?

Is it any wonder that the SUNY system is cash strapped when leadership hires and overpays so many administrators? SUNY is now paying a king’s ransom to the person responsible for the lion’s share of their most pressing problems. When King was Commissioner of Education, he preached that it was all about the kids. Or was it really all about making a name for himself and making himself and his Common Core cronies rich?

Andrew Ludwig is a retired public school administrator who is now the Principal and COO of Northern Chautauqua Catholic School. NCCS is the last Catholic School in Chautauqua County.