Pawlenty takes over national education organization

Gov. Tim Pawlenty
The post as the chair of The Education Commission of the States is another chance for Pawlenty to raise his national profile.
MPR Photo/Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty takes the reigns of a national education organization today.

Gov. Pawlenty will become the chair of The Education Commission of the States during the organization's national forum on Educational Policy in Austin, Texas.

The nonprofit, Denver-based group has brought together policy makers and education leaders to work on public school issues since 1965.

The chairmanship rotates every two years between Democratic and Republican governors. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is the current chair.

The post is another chance for Pawlenty to raise his national profile.

His year-long term as chair of the National Governors Association will end this summer and he has been traveling across the country campaigning on behalf of presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Pawlenty is often mentioned as a possible McCain running-mate.