After Emily Byrne, the founding executive director of New Haven Promise, stepped down last week, the scholarship program has begun looking for a new leader, the New Haven Independent reported.

Byrne is leaving Promise to work as director of strategic initiatives for the state’s new education commissioner, Stefan Pryor ’93 LAW ’98. Garth Harries ’95, deputy superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, will head the search committee charged with finding a replacement for Byrne.

“We think Emily has done a great job of setting up Promise,” Harries told the Independent. “Our priority is making sure we get the right person in the role. Promise is running perfectly effectively now. The most important thing is who ends up on the bus.”

Before Promise, Byrne worked as deputy chief of staff for Mayor John DeStefano Jr. Harries said his committee will search across the nation for someone who understands education reform, communications, community organization and “change management.” Until the committee finishes its search, Adriana Arreola, parent organizer and benchmark manager for Promise, will be the program’s director.