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Kansas early childhood panel gives input to KSDE commissioner search
Summary
Panelists told search firm HYA that strengths include cross-system collaboration and trust in field practitioners, and named priorities for the next Kansas Commissioner of Education such as kindergarten readiness, family engagement and workforce stability; HYA will publish a leadership-profile report in about two weeks.
Melissa Schonberger, chair of the Kansas Early Childhood Recommendations Panel, opened the Jan. 6 session by inviting panelists to give feedback to HYA Associates as part of the State Board of Education's search for a new commissioner of education after Dr. Randy Watson announced his intent to retire.
Frank Henderson of HYA framed the focus group work and said the firm has gathered input from about 40 similar focus groups; he asked the panel what KSDE’s strengths, challenges and immediate priorities should be for the next commissioner. "If you invest in early childhood, everyone wins," Henderson said as he asked for candid field perspectives.
Panelists emphasized KSDE’s collaborative relationships with field partners and its forward-looking planning. Tabitha (Kansas Parent Information Resource Center) said KSDE and Commissioner Watson "trust the people who are doing the work, the people who are in the field," and participants praised KSDE staff for bridging systems. Kelly France Langford (TARC) called cross-system commitment a core strength; Melissa Martin (Spark Quill) urged retaining the department’s long-range planning that anticipates future needs.
Speakers also identified near-term pressures the incoming commissioner will face: leadership transitions across state government, likely changes to the school finance formula, federal funding uncertainty for early childhood programs and persistent workforce shortages. "Parent voice and genuine, respected parent voice" across the state was raised by Trina Morgan (Kansas Children's Service League) as a challenge and area for improvement.
Panelists proposed immediate priorities for a new commissioner: elevating kindergarten readiness and early literacy, strengthening family engagement through the All In for Kansas Kids strategic plan, and sustaining career pathways that bring new educators into the early childhood workforce. Abdul Yahaya (Open Minds Child Development Center) said kindergarten-readiness work should be a visible goal, and several members urged attention to equity across geography and race.
On personal attributes, members recommended a commissioner who is visible and approachable in Kansas communities, willing to learn from practitioners and families, and able to build partnerships across agencies. Patty Peschel highlighted the value of experienced KSDE personnel and recommended that the next commissioner protect institutional strengths while advancing bold thinking.
Henderson said HYA will use the focus-group feedback to draft a leadership-profile report that will be shared publicly in roughly two weeks and used to guide recruitment and onboarding. The panel’s input will be included in that document; panelists were invited to email candidate suggestions to frankhenderson@hyasearch.com for inclusion.
The session closed without formal votes tied to the search; the HYA report will inform the State Board’s next steps.
