TOPEKA – Jim McNiece chairman of the Kansas State Board of Education, has been selected as the president of the National Association of State Boards of Education for 2016.

McNiece, who had been serving as the association’s 2015 president-elect, was selected as NASBE’s president at the association’s annual conference last month in Baltimore, Md.

“State boards of education across the nation are committed to the success of every student,” he said. “NASBE fills such an important role by providing resources and the support states need to achieve their goal that all students will graduate college — career and civic ready. I am honored to lead this organization in 2016.”

McNiece, Wichita, was elected to the Kansas State Board in 2012. NASBE in 2013 selected him as the new state board member representative to the association’s board of directors. He serves on the State Board Communications team, the Coalition of Innovative Districts Board and the Kansas Alliance for Education Advocacy. McNiece also has served on the Kansas State High School Activities Association Board and the Kansas Volunteer Commission. McNiece has 39 years of teaching experience, as well as serving as a coach and principal in private and public schools in Kansas.

He was recognized as the Kansas High School Principal of the Year and received the “Excellence in Public Service” award for his community involvement and service.

The schools McNiece served at have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement at the national level (New American High School, United States Department of Education), state level (Kansas Challenge Award) and the local level (Good Apple Award in Wichita).

McNiece earned his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Mary of the Plains College, which was located in Dodge City, and a master’s degree in secondary school administration and an education specialist’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Fort Hays State University.

“Jim McNiece has been an education leader at every level from the schoolhouse to the state house,” said Kristen Amundson, NASBE’s executive director. “NASBE is fortunate that he will represent state board of education members on the national stage. We are delighted to have him serve as our president in 2016.”

Mary Lord, vice president of the D.C. State Board of Education, served as NASBE’s 2015 president. Jay Barth, a member of the Arkansas State Board of Education, is serving as NASBE’s president-elect in 2016.

NASBE represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. The principal objectives of the association are to strengthen state leadership in education policymaking, advocate equality of access to educational opportunity, promote excellence in the education of all students and ensure responsible lay governance of education.

For more information about NASBE, visit www.nasbe.org.