Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today a change in leadership at the Iowa Department of Education, appointing McKenzie Snow, who is currently Virginia’s deputy secretary of education, to replace Chad Aldis as department director. Aldis, who was named director in March, has resigned for family reasons, a news release said. Snow’s appointment is effective Monday, June 26, and Aldis will remain through June 30 to assist with the transition. “While a leadership change at this time was unexpected, I respect why it’s necessary. I want to thank Director Aldis for his service, and I wish him and his family the very best,” Reynolds said in a prepared statement. Reynolds said that in her career, Snow has worked to expand career and technical education, and implemented an initiative to drive literacy. She has experience in the classroom, serving two states and in the U.S. Department of Education, the release said. She taught remedial courses at the University of the Free State in South Africa. From 2019 to 2021, Snow served in the federal government as a special assistant to the president at the White House Domestic Policy Council, senior adviser at the Office of Management and Budget, and policy director at the U.S. Department of Education. She worked as a division director in New Hampshire’s department of education, overseeing academics and assessment, career development and more before taking the deputy secretary role in Virginia.