The role of the Commissioner is to provide support, service and technical assistance to the State Board of Education, the Governor's office, the Legislature and other groups in the areas of legal matters, resource development, media relations and other initiatives leading to educational improvement. The Commissioner is the primary external spokesperson for public and private elementary/secondary education.

Contact the Commissioner at virginia.barry@ed.state.nh.us or (603) 271-3144.

Virginia M. Barry, Ph.D.

Virginia M. Barry Ph.D. was sworn in as Commissioner of Education on June 1, 2009. The Executive Council unanimously confirmed Governor John Lynch's nomination of her on May 6.

Dr. Barry had been a Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She has been a professor of education with a specialty in child development and coordinator of teacher education programs.

Dr. Barry’s career included four years as a primary school teacher in the William Floyd School District, a graduate teaching fellow at Queens College City University of New York, a teaching fellow at Florida State University, and an elementary school principal in Mastic Beach, New York.

Dr. Barry received a B.S. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Florida State University, a M.S. in Child Development from Queens College and SUNY Stony Brook, New York, and a Ph.D. in Child Development/Early Childhood Education from Florida State University. Her education also includes postdoctoral studies, certifications, management and leadership studies at Harvard, College of William and Mary, and New York University.