Vermont State Board of Education Chair Resigned
The ten-member board is transitioning leadership after Jennifer Deck Samuelson stepped down this month.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Administration
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Jennifer Deck Samuelson has resigned as chair of the Vermont State Board of Education, a position she held for four years. The board, which oversees statewide education policy, will now begin a transition process for its leadership.
Why it matters
The board is currently navigating significant responsibilities including the finalization of statewide high-school graduation requirements. Samuelson cited personal commitments and the increasing demands of the role as the primary reasons for her departure.
The 10-member board operates with members receiving a $50 stipend per meeting. While Samuelson leaves before her 2028 term expiration, the board remains active with 2025 legislative shifts affecting appointment powers for two seats.
The players
Jennifer Deck Samuelson
The outgoing chair who served on the Vermont State Board of Education since 2020.
Tammy Kolbe
A member of the board appointed to serve as the acting board chair during the leadership transition.
Phil Scott
The Governor of Vermont who received the formal resignation notice on September 15.
The details
The board is managing a transition while continuing its regulatory duties, including oversight of merger committees set to begin meeting next month. Tammy Kolbe has stepped in to serve as acting board chair following the resignation announcement. The selection process for a new board member is governed by recent legislative changes that now grant appointment powers for two seats to the state's House and Senate.
Timeline
September 15, 2026: Samuelson submitted her resignation letter to Governor Phil Scott.
September 16, 2026: The resignation was announced during the board meeting.
October 2026: The board will hold a special election to select a new chair.
March 2027: A mandatory election for board chair and vice chair is scheduled.
The Home Front
This leadership change follows the 2025 legislative shift in Vermont board appointment powers that altered how seats are filled. The board must now reconcile these structural changes with the upcoming mandate to finalize statewide graduation requirements.
Families with students in the public school system should monitor the board's upcoming work on graduation requirements over the next year. You can track progress on these academic standards through the official state board meeting minutes.
The takeaway
As leadership transitions, the board remains focused on critical policy deadlines including the upcoming high-school graduation requirements. Residents can stay informed by attending monthly meetings or reviewing board records to see how these policy shifts may affect local school district operations.
What happens next
The board is scheduled to hold a special election in October 2026 to select a new chair, followed by a mandatory election for both chair and vice chair in March 2027.
Further reading
For more on how state oversight impacts local schools, visit Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Seven Days.
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