Senate Leader Appoints Missourians to Head
New Educational Standards Workgroups
JEFFERSON CITY— Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, sent his first set of nominations to the State Board of Education to head up the new Missouri Learning Standards workgroups today. The workgroups will include both parents and education professionals.
House Bill 1490, passed by the Legislature this session, creates the new Missouri Learning Standards, or educational benchmarks for students in our state. The standards will establish the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for students to successfully advance through the public elementary and secondary educational system in Missouri.
“We need to prepare our students for postsecondary education and the workplace,” said Dempsey. “An educated workforce is vital to business success in our state. Companies will not move to the Show-Me state if we cannot provide qualified employees.”
House Bill 1490 creates workgroups composed of education professionals and parents to develop and recommend such academic performance standards specifically for Missouri.
Dempsey continued, “The workgroups will help us gain a better understanding of appropriate standards for our state. Together parents and qualified teachers can create a rigorous curriculum for our students and maintain a process of openness and transparency.”
As President Pro Tempore, Sen. Dempsey was tasked with appointing 32 people to the workgroups. Below is the list of the first set of nominations.
Dr. Nancy Hadfield
Hunter Weakley
Jaimie Shaver
Jessica Johnson
Ella Jean Keeney
Pamela Wiles
Brian Schultz
Laura Mahurin
Dr. Cheryl Cozette
Janet Criddle
Dr. Keri Skeeters
“The goal of these workgroups is to ensure that we receive public input and maintain local control over the curriculum and the standards. We will need a wide spectrum of education professionals and parents to bring their ideas to the table in order to continue to move Missouri forward,” said Dempsey.
In order to be considered an education professional, the nominee must be a Missouri resident for at least three years and have taught in the workgroup’s subject area for at least 10 years or have 10 years of experience in that subject. To apply, go to http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/members/mem23.htm. Click on the Education Standards Working Groups tab to find the application. Potential nominees may be asked go through a background check. You may return the completed application forms and spreadsheets to Sen. Dempsey’s office.
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