Rich Crandall unanimously approved as new Colorado education commissioner

DENVER | The Colorado Board of Education unanimously voted to select Richard Crandall as the state’s new commissioner of education Monday, Jan. 4, ending a months-long national search process.

Crandall, a former state legislator in both the Arizona Senate and House, was named the single finalist for Colorado’s top education position in December, according to a Department of Education press release. Longtime Aurora educator Elliot Asp has served as the state’s interim commissioner since the former commissioner, Robert Hammond, retired last June.

Most recently, Crandall, who is also a licensed school nutrition specialist, has served as an executive at a pair of nutritional consulting and audit agencies centered on providing services for children and the elderly. 

In 2013, he was selected to lead the Wyoming Department of Education, although the position was later nullified by the Wyoming Supreme Court due to a technicality in that state’s constitution. 

Crandall served in the Arizona state senate from 2011-13 and as a state representative from 2007-2010. During his time in the Arizona legislature, he served as chairman of the education committee in both chambers.

Crandall is slated to begin his duties for the Colorado Department of Education on Jan. 19.