Karla Eslinger will lead Missouri's education policy. Here are her plans

Only the seventh Commissioner of Education in the history of Missouri, Karla Eslinger has a resume that appears tailor-made for the job.

She started teaching in tiny Theodosia in a classroom with two rows of first-graders and two rows of second-graders.

After exiting the classroom, Eslinger was an elementary, K-8 and K-12 principal and then superintendent in Ava and West Plains.

She taught at the university level, preparing school leaders, and worked at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — which she now leads — before stepping into a federal-level education role that involved working with districts in Boston, Houston and Los Angeles.

She served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 and was in the Missouri Senate when she was named the commissioner, succeeding Margie Vandeven .

"As far as my experience, sometimes I wonder if I'm the oldest person alive," she joked. "Because I've had so many opportunities throughout my career."

Turning serious, Eslinger said she hopes those different experiences will help her be an effective commissioner.

"I can see the work of educating children through the lens of a classroom teacher. What is it that I needed as a classroom teacher to be able to do the job that you asked me to do? I can look at this work through the lens of a school leader," she said. "What is it that I needed from the department when I was leading a building or running a district?"

She described herself as a policymaker who likes to work closely with constituents to listen and respond.

"The first thing you always have to gain before you can solve a problem is a true understanding of the issue," she said.

Eslinger stepped into the new role this summer at a pivotal time for education in Missouri.

"I'm kind of used to a pretty fast pace so this works well for me," said Eslinger, during a July interview. "... It just keeps coming."

There is a teacher shortage exacerbated by constant turnover and many districts are reporting fewer applicants than usual for openings — and too few for critical positions.

"We have a true shortage not only in the pipeline and people coming into education but (also) in the number of applicants every time one of our principals and superintendents post a job," she said. "That is one of the biggest challenges we have ... I like to remind our educators that this workforce challenge is not just education."

Reading, literacy skills will be a major focus

Signs suggest a post-pandemic stabilization has been happening.

Student attendance levels are starting to rebound and the number of students scoring at grade level in reading and math is inching upward, even if it is still largely tepid.

A major push to improve literacy skills and reading comprehension is part of the state's strategic plan. Eslinger said she will work to ensure all student can read on grade level.

"If we're able to address our literacy challenges and are able to address the teacher and the educator shortage, we'll be coming a long way," she said.

Eslinger said to have a true picture of student achievement, the state must measure growth and the amount of learning that is taking place each year, and not just if a student hits a benchmark or not.

"It's important for us in the department and for our school systems to be able to articulate ... what does it mean that your child is learning and what is it that they need to know, what is it that they need to know next," she said.

As the public education leader for Missouri, Eslinger will likely face political headwinds from former Republican colleagues in the state General Assembly who have been advocating for more school choice and state funding to help parents pay for it.

In the primary, state-level candidates were calling for a significant downsizing of DESE .

Eslinger said the state education department provides critical "nuts and bolts" support services for schools and school leaders when it comes to the budget, transportation, food services, quality instruction and other areas.

"What DESE does well is is give you the information you need or gives you an opportunity to learn something through various trainings so that you can make it easier for kids," she said.

Asked how DESE helps make the job easier for schools and educators, Eslinger said it varies based on the individual needs of a classroom, a district and a community.

"A school will always reflect the community and the community will always reflect the school," she said.

She said there is uniformity in how the state evaluates student knowledge and school quality but it has more leeway in how it develops, supports and helps improve public education.

More: Missouri school board approves strategic plan, aims to hit these goals by 2026

'Try not to make some rash decisions'

Eslinger said despite the size of the job ahead, it was important for her to start work by listening. She planned to spend weeks reacquainting herself with the inner workings of DESE, meeting with key stakeholders and figuring out next steps.

"There are so many layers, so many systems and divisions and various roles that all these people play. I am trying to just learn as much as I can about the work that we're doing," she said of DESE.

"People say 'What do you want to do? What is your vision?' Right now, I'm just trying to get an understanding of how it is, a sense of where can I help. What is it that I do? And try not to make some rash decisions."

Eslinger said there will be more time to reflect and plan after the start of the school year. Most districts returned to class Monday and Tuesday.

Branson Superintendent Brad Swofford has known Eslinger for years, in her many different roles.

"I believe our new commissioner, her intent will be to make decisions and bring people together to do what is right for kids in Missouri. That will be her singular goal and she won't waiver from that," Swofford said.

"She is a very committed, persistent leader that I have a lot of respect for and I am looking forward to seeing what she'll do and helping her accomplish those goals."

Karla Eslinger part of a family of educators

Eslinger and her husband, David, a retired industrial arts teacher, have a family farm in Wasola but their family business has become education. One daughter is an elementary principal, another is a high school business teacher and her son-in-law is a superintendent.

She said while improving teacher pay is vital, and something she has supported, she knows its not the only fundamental issue that needs to be addressed.

More: As promised, Dolly Parton will visit Missouri to celebrate Imagination Library program

Teachers must have the training and the tools to be able to manage a classroom and address the needs of students when they arise.

"The other piece is the culture, the environment, the how do we address these children to where they feel safe, where they will be in a place where they will be ready to learn," she said. "And how do you deal with those emotional behaviors, where kids are unable to cope."

Eslinger said she plans to be "very visible" in schools across Missouri starting in September and October.

"I've mapped out the state of Missouri and I've hit all of the regions that I have planned to attend," she said. "I'm looking at the first part of the week and the last part of the week for me to be on the road and in the classrooms."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Karla Eslinger will lead Missouri's education policy. Here are her plans