U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) met this week with the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP) to discuss various issues, including funding for early childhood education. The meeting included Mike Schooley, Executive Director of MAESP from Columbia, Mo.; Jason Anderson, Director of  ‎Elementary Operations at Springfield Public Schools from Springfield, Mo.; Tammy Condren, current Assistant Professor at Southwest Baptist University and retired Marion C. Early Principal from Morrisville, Mo.; Ed Elsea, Principal of Hillcrest School from Lebanon, Mo.; and Stacy Fick, Principal of Hallsville Intermediate School from Hallsville, Mo.

Before serving in Congress, Blunt was a high school and college history teacher, and he served for four years as the president of his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.

“As a former educator, I understand the importance of a quality education for every student,” Blunt said. “I enjoyed meeting with the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals, and I’ll keep working to encourage common-sense policies that allow local educators to decide what’s in the best interest of their communities, classrooms, and students.”