Missouri Teacher Leader of Tomorrow Award
Founded by the Missouri Milken Educators, “the Missouri Teacher Leader of Tomorrow Award recognize[s] and celebrate[s] promising pre-service teachers enrolled in Missouri's Educator Preparation Programs.” The following students were honored with this award and recognized at the State Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 3.
Southeast Missouri State University – Kamryn Flowers
Missouri Southern State University – Dana Yasmeen Oxford
Missouri State University - Aubrey Hardy*
Saint Louis University – Aurora Hofius
Lincoln University – Ross Barelli
Missouri S&T – Madison Jolly
University of Missouri-Columbia – Alyssa Robinson
Webster University – Samantha Finder
University of Missouri-Kansas City – Addi Douglas
Truman State University – Maura Ploesser*
*Missouri NEA Aspiring Educator/Student Member
Missouri NEA congratulates all honorees and looks forward to supporting them and their students from now and into the future!
MSSD Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee Recommendations, Pt. II
Mark Wheatley, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Special Education, presented again to the State Board in June regarding the long-range planning recommendations for the School for the Missouri School for the Severely Disabled (MSSD). The presentation for this month had a more granular focus on the current phase of the restructuring of MSSD. Once again, the board did not yet vote on this recommendation; they will likely have action on MSSD forthcoming in the Fall of 2025.
Updates on Executive Order 25-15 (Child Care Regulatory Reform)
Currently, the Office of Childhood at DESE is working on a tight timeline established by Kehoe’s Executive Order 25-15 to gather stakeholder input, eliminate or modify child care regulations by 10%, and improve readability and accessibility of child care licensing regulations. This report is due to the Governor’s office by September 1, 2025.
The OOC is seeking stakeholder input regarding Child Care Licensing Rule Revision with a survey. If you have children in a Child Care facility in the state, please consider giving your input.
All information on this work can be found at DESE’s Child Care Licensing Rule Revision webpage.
New Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Childhood, Deidre Anderson-Barbee, officially started on June 2, 2025, and was present at the State Board meeting.
State Board: Governmental Affairs Update
Perry Gorrell, Chief of Government Relations, gave the State Board a recap of the Missouri Legislative session and an overview of the current Special Session. There was great discussion from the new board members about the legislative process and how much significance the State Board of Education’s legislative priorities were considered by legislators.
The item from passed legislation – SB 68 – that garnered the most attention was the provision regarding Grade Level Equivalency reporting for state tests (HCS/HB 712 - Brad Pollitt). There were many questions about how scores are currently reported and how this new provision will impact the work that the Office of Quality Schools does with state testing and reporting for MSIP 6/APR. It was mentioned that the board will get a detailed presentation on this during their board retreat in July.
For frequent, reliable, and relevant education legislative updates, sign up for the MNEA Legislative Update Listserv by MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen.
MNEA believes that every student and educator deserves the best experience possible in schools. That is why we are the only educational organization that is consistently present at every meeting of DESE, the state board of education, and the Missouri Legislature. We are your eyes and ears where decisions are being made about your schools.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.