Stephen Appleby confirmed as Director of Educator Support and Higher Education

CONCORD - Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut today congratulated Stephen Appleby on his confirmation as Director of the Division of Educator Support and Higher Education. The Executive Council confirmed Appleby to the post with a bipartisan vote of 4-1. Appleby had served as the Administrator of the Bureau of Credentialing since July 2018.

For almost 20 years, Appleby owned and operated the New Horizons Computer Learning Centers franchise in Nashua, a New Hampshire licensed career school providing IT and project management training to companies, governments, and individuals. He was co-founder of the New Hampshire Council of Professional Education, a 501(c)3 organization representing licensed career schools throughout the Granite State.

At the Bureau of Credentialing, Appleby oversaw an overhaul of the state's educator credentialing portal, the Educator Information System (EIS). The now-paperless EIS allows more than 27,000 educators across New Hampshire to track their credentials status online and receive digital credentials, providing faster, cheaper service. Appleby is currently crafting a proposal to dramatically lower licensing and renewal fees for most New Hampshire educators.

"Stephen brings extensive experience from the private sector and from within the Department. I can think of no one better qualified to take over this vital division," Edelblut said. "His team has already delivered better and faster service for New Hampshire teachers, and I am thrilled that he will now be able to expand his responsibilities."

The Division of Educator Support and Higher Education oversees licensing for all New Hampshire educators, provides transcripts for now-closed colleges, provides oversight of postsecondary educator preparation programs, approves postsecondary institutions to accept VA funds, licenses career schools, and coordinates the Higher Education Commission which oversees private and out-of-state institutions of higher education serving New Hampshire students.

"I want to thank the Council for this opportunity. I am excited to get to work in this new and important role," Appleby said. "My goal is to lower administrative barriers that get in the way of educating New Hampshire students while maintaining our high standards."

For more information, visit the Division of Educator Support and Higher Education.