Missouri names new interim education commissioner as search for permanent leader continues

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KBSI) — Lisa Sireno has been appointed Missouri’s interim commissioner of education following the unexpected resignation of Dr. Stacey Preis.

Preis resigned during the Missouri State Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, with her resignation taking effect immediately.

Following her departure, the board appointed Sireno, deputy commissioner of learning services for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to serve as interim commissioner beginning Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Sireno was named deputy commissioner of learning services in July.

Before taking that position, she served as assistant commissioner in DESE’s Office of Quality Schools, where she oversaw Missouri’s statewide assessment, accountability, school improvement, virtual learning, charter school and gifted education programs.

Sireno joined DESE in 2015 as standards and assessment administrator in the Office of College and Career Readiness.

Before joining the department, she served as associate director of the University of Missouri’s Assessment Resource Center.

DESE has not announced a timeline for selecting a permanent commissioner of education.

The department said additional information about the selection process will be released as it becomes available.