Five Seek Top Kansas Education Position

Sep. 15–TOPEKA — Five candidates were announced Wednesday for Kansas education commissioner, a position vacant since June.

The announcement comes just days after the search appeared paralyzed by disputes among Board of Education members over the criteria to be used in selecting a new commissioner.

The commissioner is the state’s top school administrator and oversees state education programs, statewide school finance and academic standards. The department administers teaching licenses, school accreditation, testing and federal school regulations. Former Commissioner Andy Tompkins left in June to take a University of Kansas teaching job.

Five candidates will be interviewed Sunday and Monday for the position. It is unlikely the board will select a commissioner before its Sept. 23 deadline.

Earlier this week, the National Association of State Boards of Education withdrew from the search after conservative board members criticized the criteria being used by the association in selecting nominees for the job. The association was hired this summer to help find applicants, but some board members said the group was putting too much emphasis on experience in the field of education at the expense of civic and business experience.

The board interviewed applicants in June but couldn’t reach a consensus.

Despite the delays, the search is proceeding well, according to board chairman Steve Abrams, a conservative Republican from Arkansas City.

Board member Sue Gamble, a moderate Republican from Shawnee, said she was frustrated by the departure of the school board association. She said the group’s criteria — which put a priority on education experience — was appropriate.

“It was unfortunate,” she said. “Their process was violated and they withdrew. I would have done the same thing.”

The association sent a letter to the board apologizing for not completing the job and saying it would give up its $7,000 payment.

Abrams said he is optimistic that the next round of interviews will lead to a successful application.

Previous candidates asked the board to keep their applications confidential, but Abrams said the five now applying for the job had made no such requests.

The candidates:

–Bob Corkins, executive director of Kansas Legislative Education and Research Inc. and the Freestate Center for Liberty Studies. He has worked with the state Chamber of Commerce and is active in conservative politics. He opposed a recent state Supreme Court ruling demanding more money for school finance. He has a law degree.

–Milt Dougherty, superintendent of schools for the Little River, Kan., School District, a former teacher and principal. He has a doctorate in education administration.

–Washburn University education professor Daniel Harden, a former principal and teacher. He also is vice president of the Jefferson West Board of Education in Meriden, Kan.

–Kansas Deputy Commissioner of Education Alexa Posny, who oversees special education, school accreditation and other programs for the state. Posny was director of special education for the Shawnee Mission School District and is a former teacher. She has a doctorate in educational administration.

–Kurt Steinhaus, deputy secretary of education for New Mexico. He is a former director of education at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and is a former teacher and school administrator. He has a doctorate in educational leadership.

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