New state Secretary of Education Dr. Vicki L. Phillips provided a bit of an education to local school superintendents Tuesday at Slippery Rock University.

Dr. Phillips fielded a variety of questions during an informational breakfast meeting with school officials.

"It's refreshing to have someone come out and communicate with us," said West Middlesex Area Superintendent Al Jones. "People should be able to feel safe with her. She was a teacher, a principal and a superintendent. They'll have a lot of comfort with that."

Communication was important to several superintendents, especially since the recent results from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests had some districts scrambling to get answers from the Department of Education and having a difficult time doing just that.

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