| Dear Chief School Administrators,
I’m excited to share some important and encouraging news with you. Today, Monday, May 5, Amy Lena officially stepped into the role of Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education here at the Department. Many of you already know Amy from her work within PDE or from her time in the field—and if you don’t know her yet, I can assure you she is someone you’ll want in your corner.
Amy brings not only deep experience but also the lived understanding of what it means to lead in a school system. She’s been a classroom teacher, an instructional coach, a principal, and a district-level leader. She knows what it feels like to juggle competing priorities, to need answers yesterday, and to confront policies that sometimes don’t make sense on the ground. That’s why Amy has always pushed for clarity, practicality, and above all—responsiveness.
Since joining PDE in 2020, Amy has served as a trusted advisor and bureau director, helping shape statewide efforts around school support and professional development. She has consistently championed equitable practices that lead to real student outcomes and on-time graduation—not just in theory, but in ways that work for real educators in real schools.
Now, as Deputy Secretary, Amy will lead the critical work of our elementary and secondary education team—including curriculum and instruction, special education, CTE, safe schools, accountability, and more. But more importantly, she is here to partner with you. She understands the weight of your responsibilities and is committed to making PDE a stronger, more collaborative, and more effective resource for all of Pennsylvania’s school leaders.
Please join me in welcoming Amy to this role. I am confident that her leadership will bring both stability and fresh momentum to the work ahead.
Sincerely,
Carrie Rowe, Ed.D. | Acting Secretary of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
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