JEFFERSON CITY, Mo – Earlier this month, Joe Driskill was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to head the state Board of Education. Driskill, although appointed, still needs to be approved by the state Senate through a vote.
Driskill has experience working with legislators as a representative for southern Missouri for 10 years, Driskill also served as the director of the Missouri Board of Economic development from 1993 to 2003.
“His ability to work with corporate entities would be a benefit” Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis said.
Sen. David Pearce, R- Audrain, told The Missouri Times: “Joe has had a wealth of experience in the public sector and a wealth of knowledge.”
Nadal also spoke on Driskill’s past work: ”he was quite competent as director of economic development”.
The only experience Driskill is said to be lacking is in education itself.
“He readily admits he hasn’t had a lot of experience in education,” said Pearce.
Pearce went on to say that this also means Driskill has no past ties to education it self and that “sometimes coming in with a clean slate is a good thing”.
Pearce expressed his support for Driskill as the Head of the Board of Education to The Missouri Times. Nadal, on the other hand, will be giving all appointees equal attention.
“I don’t know what everyone else is thinking, all I care about is my review process,” she said.
