Missouri Governor Michael L. Parson named Mary Sheid to the State Board of Education on Tuesday afternoon. Sheid, whose appointment will fill out the eight-member board, is now subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate in the coming weeks.

Sheid currently works as the owner and chief executive operator of Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic, Inc. in West Plains. She serves as project director for SOARHigh, an ongoing project that works with select students in the areas of nutrition, physical education and social-emotional wellness. Sheid spent three years as president of the Southern Ozarks Alliance for Rural Development and is a member of the GO-CAT community advisory board, which assists community development, internships and technical training. She previously served on the Missouri State University Board of Governors from 2002-2011 and is a current member of a local workforce investment board.

Sheid earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and psychology from Drury University.

“We are very excited for Ms. Sheid’s opportunity to serve on the State Board of Education,” Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Margie Vandeven said. “Her experiences with local industry put her in a valuable position to help us continue to prepare students for success in both school and in life.”

The next scheduled meeting of the State Board of Education is March 26 in Jefferson City.