Beginning April 1, Peggy Landwehr joins the staff of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as chief counsel. Landwehr makes the move from the Department of Social Services, where she was special counsel in the Division of Legal Services. Previously, she worked for several years with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office as assistant attorney general where she represented DESE on cases pertaining to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), educator certification, school district boundaries and more. Landwehr also routinely advised DESE officials on numerous legal issues such as charter schools, the Sunshine Law, rulemaking and administrative issues.

“We are pleased to have someone of Peggy’s caliber and experience join our leadership team at DESE,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.

The chief counsel serves as counsel for the commissioner and the State Board of Education; as a liaison to other state and federal agencies; and as an advisor on legislative issues, contracts and grants, and internal audits. The chief counsel also coordinates the work of legal counsel assigned to the Offices of Special Education and Adult Learning and Rehabilitative Services.

Landwehr will head DESE’s Office of Governmental Affairs. The Governmental Affairs staff works with the Office of Educator Quality and the Missouri Attorney General’s office to conduct certification hearings regarding Missouri educators who are charged with misconduct.

Landwehr graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She earned her Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law.