Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announced she will be stepping down from her position effective July 1, 2024. She has served as the Commissioner of Education for more than seven years, from January 2015 to December 2017, and again January 2019 to present.

During today’s regularly scheduled board meeting, State Board of Education President Charlie Shields announced that he had received Commissioner Vandeven’s resignation and invited her to share remarks.

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

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.

Those statewide improvements Commissioner Vandeven discussed include

• 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.

“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 President 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.” 

“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 Governor 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.”

Commissioner Vandeven said she announced her resignation now to give the State Board of Education ample time to complete the process of finding a successor, pledging to work tirelessly in her final months on behalf of Missouri students and educators.