Missouri’s commissioner of education announced Tuesday she will resign as commissioner, effective July 1, 2024.
Margie Vandeven has spent more than seven years as commissioner, from January 2015 to December 2017 and from January 2019 to present, according to a news release from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Vandeven shared her resignation Tuesday during the regular October meeting of the State Board of Education.
“Margie has been a true champion for public education and a steadfast leader throughout her tenure as commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,” said Gov. Mike Parson. “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. We are grateful for her commitment and dedication to our Missouri administrators, teachers, students and parents.”
Vandeven said she wanted to give the board plenty of time to find a successor and said she would work tirelessly in her last months as commissioner.
“Serving as commissioner of education for the great state of Missouri has been the honor and the opportunity of a lifetime,” Vandeven told the board.
She cited several improvements and accomplishments within Missouri’s public school system during her tenure, including:
• Efforts on teacher recruitment and retention.
• School safety improvements.
• Accountability and support for continuous improvement for Missouri schools.
• Expansion of career and technical education and apprenticeship.
• Streamlining of early care and education.
• Statewide approaches to reading education.
• Response to the COVID-19 pandemic and issuing relief funding.
“Commissioner Vandeven has led the department through unprecedented events and challenging times, but her focus has never wavered — she always works to do what’s best for students,” said Board President Charlie Shields. “Missouri is better because of Margie’s service to our state, and I know stakeholders across the state will join me in thanking her for her commitment.”