Jillian Balow

Jillian Balow (born 1970) is an American politician who was appointed as the Virginia superintendent of public instruction in January 2022. She resigned from the position in March 2023. From 2014 to January 2022, she was the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction.

Jillian Balow
Balow in 2014
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office January 15, 2022 – March 9, 2023
Governor	Glenn Youngkin
Preceded by	James Lane
Succeeded by	Lisa Coons
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office January 5, 2015 – January 15, 2022
Governor	Matt Mead Mark Gordon
Preceded by	Cindy Hill
Succeeded by	Kari Eakins (Acting)
Personal details
Born	1970 (age 54–55) Laramie, Wyoming, United States
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Wyoming (BA) Regis University (MEd)

Career

Balow was a division administrator in the Wyoming Department of Family Services.^[1]

Balow was president of the Council of Chief State School Officers.^[2] A Republican, she was elected as the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2014, winning 61% of the vote against Democrat Mike Ceballos.^[2] During her 2014 campaign, she opposed the Common Core initiatives.^[1] Balow ran unopposed in 2018.^[2] Her last day as the Wyoming superintendent was January 16, 2022.^[3]

In January 2022, Balow was appointed by governor Glenn Youngkin as the Virginia superintendent of public instruction.^[3] She succeeded acting Virginia superintendent Rosa Atkins.^[2]

On March 1, 2023, Balow announced her resignation as Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction, effective March 9. Balow's tenure at VDOE was marked with high-profile fights over issues including revised state standards for history education and the treatment of transgender students in schools.^[4]