The Public Charter School Commission has chosen as its executive director Tom Hutton, an authority on education law and policy who helped found a successful charter school in Washington, D.C.

Hutton has served as senior staff attorney for the National School Boards Association and a school attorney in private practice. He earned a master’s de-gree in public administration at the University of Hawaii and a law degree from Georgetown University. He returned to the islands with his Hawaii-born wife and two children last year.

"Tom is extraordinarily committed to the success of charter schools and understands, firsthand, what it takes to start and maintain an exceptional charter school," Commission Chairwoman Karen Street said, adding that he helped launch Thurgood Marshall Academy.

"He will bring valuable experience and insights both at a tactical and big-picture level to assist all stakeholders in fulfilling the goals of the new law."

The commission was created last year under legislation designed to reform Hawaii’s charter school system and ensure more accountability. The executive director position is a new one.

"I am excited to be able to play a role in what I think is a critical moment for public education in Hawaii, one full of challenges but also opportunities," said Hutton, who starts work Tuesday.