Kansas State Board of Education

TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education will host focus groups across the state to gather constituent input as the search for Kansas’ new commissioner of education gets underway.

Former Education Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker submitted her resignation in April to accept a position as the adviser to the director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

In the preliminary phase of the search process, a series of focus groups will be conducted in several state board districts to gather constituent feedback as to what they believe to be the most critical educational issues in Kansas, and the experiences and skills they feel are essential for this leadership position.

The focus groups, led by board Vice Chairwoman Sally Cauble, representing District 5, will be:

• 7 p.m. May 20, Southwest Plains Regional Service Center, 810 West Lark, Sublette

• 7 p.m. June 4 Colby High School Auditorium, 1890 S. Franklin, Colby, Kansas

• 7 p.m. June 5, Great Bend USD 428 District Offices, 201 Patton, Great Bend

All sessions are open to the public.