Missouri Governor Mike Parson appointed two members to the State Board of Education on Tuesday, as Carol Hallquist and Peter Herschend were named the fourth and fifth members of the eight-person board.

Hallquist, from Kansas City, is the founder of PrincipalsConnect, a nonprofit organization that matches retired business professionals with urban school principals. She retired as president of the Hallmark Corporate Foundation at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 2016. Hallquist holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rockhurst College. She was a fellow at Harvard’s 2016 Advanced Leadership Initiative, where she focused on urban education.

Herschend, from Branson, returns to the State Board of Education having previously served three terms as a member from 1991-2017. During that time, he acted as the Board president for eight years. He is a co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, formerly Silver Dollar City, Inc., where he served as executive vice president for 20 years and then as vice chairman of the board until his retirement in 2006. Herschend holds a degree in business administration from the University of Missouri and an honorary doctorate in business administration from Southwest Baptist University.

“We are pleased to welcome both Carol and Peter to the State Board,” Interim Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Roger Dorson said. “We value their dedication to public education, and we look forward to working with them.”

Hallquist and Herschend will begin serving immediately with the Thursday, June 14, regularly scheduled meeting of the State Board of Education.