GEORGETOWN, DE – Delaware State Senator Brian Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown) has been elected Chair of the Legislative Advisory Council of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), a regional interstate compact that works with states to improve education and workforce outcomes across the South.
Pettyjohn has been involved with SREB since November 2015, when he was appointed as a legislative representative to the organization by Governor Jack Markell. During his tenure, he has served on the SREB Commission on Career Pathways, helping advance discussions and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening connections between education and workforce opportunities for students across the region.
As Chair, Pettyjohn will lead the Legislative Advisory Council, a body composed of legislators from SREB’s 16 member states. The Council serves as a critical link between state lawmakers and the SREB Board, providing legislative insight on issues including K-12 education, career and technical education, postsecondary attainment, workforce development, educator recruitment and retention, and college affordability.
Founded in 1948, SREB is the nation’s first interstate compact dedicated to education. The organization partners with governors, legislators, state agencies, colleges, universities, and school systems to improve educational outcomes and workforce readiness through research, policy analysis, professional development, and interstate collaboration.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust my colleagues have placed in me,” said Pettyjohn. “For more than a decade, SREB has provided me with the opportunity to work alongside policymakers from across the region who share a commitment to improving educational outcomes and expanding opportunities for students. I look forward to building on that work as Chair of the Legislative Advisory Council.”
Pettyjohn said one of SREB’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring states together to share ideas and identify proven solutions to common challenges.
“Whether the discussion is teacher recruitment, career pathways, workforce training, or preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow, every state has experiences and lessons that can benefit others,” Pettyjohn said. “The Legislative Advisory Council plays an important role in ensuring that state legislators have a voice in those conversations and that SREB remains responsive to the needs and priorities of its member states.”
Throughout his service with SREB, Pettyjohn has been a strong advocate for career and technical education, workforce readiness, and creating educational pathways that align with the needs of students, employers, and local communities. His work on the Commission on Career Pathways focused on helping states develop strategies that better connect classroom learning with meaningful career opportunities.
The Southern Regional Education Board serves 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Through regional collaboration and evidence-based policy development, SREB helps states improve education at every level, from early childhood through postsecondary education and workforce training.
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