(Missourinet) – Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields says a finalist has been unanimously chosen for the permanent K-12 public school education commissioner position.
Next up is making an offer to the individual.
The board interviewed finalists Monday for the permanent post and former Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven is among the four finalists competing for her old job. Vandeven served in the position for about two years.
December 1 will mark one year since five Missouri Board of Education members appointed by former Gov. Eric Greitens voted to oust Vandeven. Those members are no longer serving. Greitens is suspected of devising a plan to choose members with the sole purpose of firing Vandeven.
Interim commissioner Roger Dorson and Superintendent Eric Knost of Rockwood School District in St. Louis County were also seen in the halls today at the Jefferson State Office Building in Jefferson City. The fourth candidate is unknown.
Dorson has been serving at the helm since Vandeven’s termination. During a board meeting this fall, President Shields complimented Dorson’s work and said members might choose to remove the interim label from Dorson’s title.
Knost has been leading Rockwood School District since 2014.
In September, the board launched its search for a permanent commissioner. Shields says the board plans to release information about the next commissioner as soon as possible. He says it hopes to have a new education leader in place by January.
The department head would oversee a staff of about 1,650 employees and work with 518 public school districts.
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(Missourinet) – The Missouri Board of Education is interviewing the four finalists Monday for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner job.
The identities of the candidates are unknown.
In September, the board launched its search for the new education chief. At the time, President Charlie Shields said the hope is to have a commissioner start in January.
December 1 will mark one year since the firing of Margie Vandeven as education commissioner. Roger Dorson has been serving at the helm since then and has said he will serve as interim commissioner as long as he’s needed.
Five previous board members were appointed by former Gov. Eric Greitens with the intention of firing Vandeven. Those members are no longer serving.
The education leader would oversee a staff of about 1,650 workers. The department is involved in the education of about 900,000 Missouri public school students in 518 districts.