At its May meeting, the members of the Missouri State Board of Education voted unanimously to elect Charlie Shields as President of the Board and Vic Lenz as Vice President.

Charlie Shields of St. Joseph was appointed to the State Board of Education in 2012, and he currently works as President and CEO of Truman Medical Centers (TMC). Mr. Shields (top picture) joined TMC in 2010 after serving 20 years in the Missouri General Assembly as part of the House of Representatives, a Republican member of the Senate and most recently as President Pro Tem. He earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Peter Herschend, who has worked continually to ensure that Missouri’s students are achieving at the highest levels and are ready for the future,” said Shields. “Education is Missouri’s most valuable resource, and I look forward to serving alongside my fellow Board members in preparing a path that gives students opportunities we never would have considered even a decade ago.”

Vic Lenz of St. Louis joined the State Board of Education in 2013. Dr. Lenz (bottom picture) has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Central Methodist College, a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from St. Louis University. He worked in Lindbergh School District as a teacher and an administrator, ending his career there as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. He served ten years on the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education and was President of the Missouri School Boards Association from 2011 to 2012.

Shields and Lenz were elected to two-year terms of office that start on July 1, 2015. Their focus on the State Board is helping Missouri become a top 10 state for education by 2020.