Gov. Terry Branstad today announced that he has named Iowa Department of Education deputy director Ryan Wise as the new director of the department. Wise, 39, will take the position on July 1. The current director, Brad Buck, announced in March he was leaving to become superintendent of Cedar Rapids schools effective July 1. Wise has served as deputy director since September 2013. He has led the implementation of Iowa’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation system, including designing and executing the application and selection process, facilitating multiple statewide coordination teams, creating a principal support system and leading Iowa’s Commission on Educator Leadership and Compensation. He has an undergraduate degree from Creighton University, and earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University Nebraska-Omaha in 2008. He earned a doctorate of education leadership from Harvard University in 2013. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate.