Get the right education commissioner

Controversy and competition could make it harder than expected to find a standout Kansas education commissioner, at least quickly. Kansas State Board of Education members began compiling their wish list for a new leader Monday, aware that Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Louisiana also are hiring education bosses. Brenda Welburn, executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, who is leading the search, also advised the board members that the short tenure of Education Commissioner Bob Corkins and the board’s history of controversy over evolution and other ideological issues could be concerns for potential candidates. “That’s tainted it a bit,” she said. Obviously, the board must hire the best, most experienced educator and administrator for this key job, even if it takes a little longer than desired.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

One Comment

  1. JWink
    Posted January 17, 2007 at 7:19 am | Permalink

    Frankly, the best person for this non-job would be a Kansas school superintendent who is ready to retire and knows the ropes and skeletons in the Kansas education system. WE DON’T NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO FILL THIS JOB. The business of our Kansas school systems is done at the local level augmented by our state legislature.