Valerie Woodruff has served as secretary of education for the state of Delaware since July 1999, when she was appointed in the acting capacity by former Governor Tom Carper. She was subsequently confirmed by the State Senate and then reappointed by Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Prior to being appointed secretary of education, Woodruff served as the associate secretary for curriculum and instructional improvement for the Delaware Department of Education. She has been a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal in high schools in both Maryland and Delaware.

During her tenure as secretary, Woodruff has led the implementation of Delaware’s accountability system as well as the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind system. Her focus on continuous improvement, the importance of high-quality teachers and school leaders, and the importance of providing an excellent educational experience for all children has resulted in improved student achievement and positive recognition of Delaware public education.

The Delaware Department of Education oversees policy and financial support for the state’s nineteen school districts and seventeen charter schools. It is responsible for programs for exceptional children and early childhood education, curriculum development, school improvement, assessment, professional accountability, technology management and design, and adult education and workforce development—including prison education.

Woodruff led the development of the first School-based Wellness Center in Delaware, has served as a Thomson Fellow for the Coalition of Essential Schools, and was selected as Delaware’s Principal of the Year in 1990. She was inducted into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame in 2005.

Woodruff currently serves as a member of several boards, including the Delaware Workforce Investment Board and its youth council, and the State Chamber of Commerce Partnership. She is also a Delaware representative on the Southern Regional Education Board, serving on its executive committee, and is the first K–12 educator to serve as vice chair. Woodruff has also served on the board of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and was president of CCSSO from November 2005 through November 2006. She currently serves on the Vision 2015 steering and implementation committees and was recently named to the board of trustees of Alderson-Broaddus College.