HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is turning to the leader of the state’s largest teachers’ union to be his next secretary of labor.
Wolf on Friday nominated special education teacher Jerry Oleksiak to succeed Kathy Manderino as the head of the Department of Labor and Industry.
The 64-year-old Oleksiak is currently president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which has 180,000 members.
The union says his last day will be Sept. 2, and his successor will be the current vice president, Dolores McCracken.
The nomination requires Senate approval.
Oleksiak’s spent most of his 32 years in the classroom at the Upper Merion Area School District, and he lives in Glenside. He has a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University.
Manderino is joining the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
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