SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today issued the following statement regarding Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appointment of Susan Kennedy as chief of staff:

"Governor Schwarzenegger made an outstanding choice in selecting Susan Kennedy to be his chief of staff. Susan brings a wealth of experience to the job. She is a tireless policy wonk and has excellent political instincts. She understands better than most people in Sacramento how politics intersect with complex policy issues. Susan is a strong organizational leader and she has a great track record of reaching across party lines to forge important bipartisan agreements. Improving public education has been a hallmark of her public service career.

"I have had the pleasure of working with Susan on numerous issues over the years, including the creation of the California High School Exit Exam. I know she will be successful in this new position and I am looking forward to working with her again to further improve public education in California."