After four years as chair of Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), tech executive and philanthropist Paul Sagan announced Tuesday that he’ll be stepping down effective immediately.
“It’s time for me to move on,” Sagan said in his public comments, which caught observers by surprise. He added: “Change is the only constant here.”
State Secretary of Education Jim Peyser announced that Gov. Charlie Baker had already chosen Katherine Craven to succeed Sagan as chair. Craven has worked in the state Legislature and at school building authorities. Currently a senior administrator at Babson College, she has occupied the “business seat” on BESE since her appointment by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2014.