(Jefferson City, MO) - The Missouri State Board of Education announced the appointment of Karla Eslinger, Ed.D, a state senator from Wasola, as the Missouri Commissioner of Education, effective June 1, 2024. Phil Murray, President of the Missouri National Education Association, issued this statement:
Dr. Karla Eslinger's appointment as Commissioner reflects her extensive experience and dedication to Missouri's students and public schools. From her beginnings as an elementary teacher to becoming superintendent in West Plains and holding key positions within the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Dr. Eslinger has consistently demonstrated her commitment to Missouri students and public schools.
Missouri faces crucial challenges: notably, the nation’s lowest average starting salaries for teachers, a critical shortage of qualified classroom teachers, and repeated attempts to undermine local control of school districts. We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Eslinger, the State Board of Education, and elected leaders of both political parties to overcome these challenges and ensure every Missouri student has access to highly qualified and caring educators.
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The 30,000-member MNEA represents teachers, education support professionals, college faculty, retired teachers, and students studying to be teachers in school districts and on college campuses throughout the state. It is the Missouri affiliate of the three million-member NEA.