According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Missouri State Board of Education has appointed Dr. Stacey Preis as interim commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), following the retirement of Karla Eslinger. Preis brings decades of experience in education policy and leadership, including roles with DESE, the Missouri Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education, and Saint Louis University’s PRiME Center.

As interim commissioner, Preis will oversee implementation of Missouri’s new A–F school accountability system, a priority of Governor Mike Kehoe, while the State Board conducts a national search for a permanent commissioner. The Board also welcomed two new members, Jordan Bradberry and Robbie Myers, during the same meeting.

“Pries is widely respected across Missouri for decades of service, thoughtful leadership, and a proven ability to unite communities around student success. We appreciate Dr. Preis’s readiness to lead at a pivotal time and look forward to partnering to deliver stronger outcomes for Missouri’s students, educators, and families,” said Brooks Miller, the state board’s president, in a statement.