Margie Vandeven announces plans Tuesday to step down as MO Commissioner of Education

Margie Vandeven, in her second stint at the Missouri Commissioner of Education, announced Tuesday that with "a heart full of gratitude" she has submitted her resignation. Her final day will be June 30.

She made the decision public during a meeting of the state Board of Education, noting the advanced notice allows for a "seamless transition" and time for a "strong finish."

“Serving as Commissioner of Education for the great state of Missouri has been the honor and the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

Vandeven said she will focus her remaining time on improving teacher recruitment and retention and implementing the Success-Ready Students Network.

In the meeting, she reflected on more than seven years in the role, serving from January 2015 to December 2017 and from January 2019 through the present.

"So often I hear 'What does it mean to be the Commissioner of Education?' The best part of our job? Visiting our schools, whether that be our state schools for severely disabled, early learning centers, high schools and career centers, and everything in between," she said. "As I've said before, our schools are the souls of our communities."

Vandeven said she has met with rural farmers, urban pastors and members of the military and said meeting with the people of Missouri has been her favorite part.

"To me, being commissioner has meant building relationships with students, parents, educators, elected officials, community and business leaders, other state agencies, colleagues across the nation, board members and 1,700 staff members at DESE and helping them see what is possible when we all work together toward a common goal."

Gov. Mike Parson was not at the meeting but released a statement calling Vandeven a "true champion for public education and a steadfast leader" as leader of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“During COVID, Margie kept a level head and successfully led Missouri schools through a global pandemic. Margie will be missed, but my team and I wish her the best," he said in the release. "We are grateful for her commitment and dedication to our Missouri administrators, teachers, students, and parents.”

Board president Charlie Shields said Vandeven led DESE through "unprecedented events and challenging times" and has "never wavered" in her commitment to doing what is best for students.

"You have been the best, most outstanding commissioner I've had the opportunity to serve with during my time in the legislature and my time in the state board," Shields said. "Thank you for your service."

Shields said the board appreciates the early notice so it has adequate time to find a new commissioner.

Board member Peter Herschend, of Branson, was first appointed to the governing board in 1991. He has served all but one of the state's education commissioners.

"Delivery on a promise is not always easy. It takes a lot of planning, a lot of forethought, a lot of commitment. It takes a person with vision and a dream of what can be," Herschend said. "Eight commissioners of education, I've never known one who carried that dream, that vision, that hope for our kids better than you."

Speaking to Vandeven, Herschend added: "I hope your successor can do as well. You have made a difference in the lives of kids and that is all that really matters. This isn't about politics. It isn't about procedures and budgets and stuff. That is the stuff we have to do."

A former English teacher, Vandeven was just the second woman appointed to serve as the state's top K-12 official.

In late 2017, then-Gov. Eric Greitens orchestrated the firing of Vandeven after stacking a majority of the state board with new appointees. He sought to appoint a new K-12 leader to champion his education agenda. But, after she was removed, Greitens withdrew support for his board nominees, which left the board unable to achieve a quorum or do any business for months.

More: She's back: A year after firing, Vandeven returns as Missouri education commissioner

Greitens resigned and Parson was sworn in. The board elected to reinstate Vandeven, who has among the dozen applicants for the vacant job.

She worked for DESE and beat out 40 applicants to get the job the first time. She had worked in both public and private schools before moving working at the state level.

On Tuesday, Vandeven said she appreciated being able to serve a nonpartisan board and believes that is the right approach.

"This is one of the hardest jobs I've ever had but you can do anything when you have a united board behind you saying 'We can get this done' and I want to thank you because you do make the hard work possible," she said.

Board member Mary Schrag, of West Plains, said she has learned from Vandeven.

"I have watched you navigate some of these very difficult challenges, none more so than COVID, and just the local control and all the many pieces of that," Schrag told Vandeven. "Not only will you be missed but for the work that you have done on behalf of the state, I feel like you will always be beloved."

In her remarks, she credited the collaborative work of a diverse group of stakeholders for improvements made to better serve Missouri’s nearly 900,000 public school students and their families.

Vandeven highlighted some of the accomplishments during her tenure:

• Gathering stakeholders to discuss innovative, modern approaches to address the educator recruitment and retention crisis;

• Ensuring schools remain among the safest places for students;

• Increasing expectations, accountability, and supports for continuous improvement for districts, charter schools, and virtual education providers;

• Expanding career and technical education programing and apprenticeship opportunities;

• Streamlining early care and education efforts through the newly created Office of Childhood;

• Implementing of a statewide approach to teaching reading; and

• Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and administering historic levels of relief funding.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Margie Vandeven will step down as MO Commission of Education in 2024