Wilson Riles' tenure as Superintendent of Public Instruction for California can best be characterized by the following quotes:"A social compact begins today in Charlottesville, Virginia - - a compact between parents, teachers, principals, superintendents, state legislators, governors, and the administration. Our compact is founded not on promises, but on challenges. From this day forward let us be an America of tougher standards, of higher goals and land of bigger dreams." President George Bush, September 28, 1989.
On September 27 and 28, 1989, President Bush and the nation's governors gathered at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville for an historic summit to begin addressing the many challenges facing our nation's educational system. However, two years earlier on July 22, 1987 Governor George Deukmejian of California through executive order D-65-87 established the California Commission on Educational Quality.
One of the first persons the Governor asked to serve on this group of distinguished educators and business leaders throughout our state was Dr. Wilson Riles. Wilson's experience and educational leadership played a key role in developing the Commission's final report to Governor Deukmejian, "A Strategy for High Performance Education in California."
Wilson's "no adversary situations" philosophy could not have been more timely as a member of the commission. When the blue-ribbon commission was formed some viewed it as little more than a political hit squad aimed at State Schools Chief, Bill Honig. However, over the course of six months, the governor's commission emerged as a respected group whose ideas and recommendations were expected to have impact on California schools.
"My early prediction was that the findings of this group would be inconsequential. Since then, I have come to be very impressed with the commission. The group has been unusually productive and creative."
--James Guthrie, Co-Director of PACE
Clearly, Wilson's common sense philosophy, his years of experience working with students, teachers, parents, superintendents, legislators, governors and presidents, contributed greatly to the credibility of the commission.
Dr. Riles worked with people on the basis of respect and what was good for kids, not from a political agenda. In turn, he was respected and admired by all three California Governors, Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown, and George Deukmejian with whom he worked to provide the students of California an equal opportunity to achieve.
Dr. Peter G. Mehas
Superintendent
Fresno COE