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Randy Watson
Randy Watson is the Kansas Commissioner of Education. Watson assumed office on July 1, 2015.
Watson took office July 1, 2015, relieving Deputy Commissioner Brad Neuenswander of his interim role filling in for former Commissioner Diane DeBacker, who resigned in April 2014.[1][2][3][4] The Kansas Board of Education hired Watson to be DeBacker's formal successor in November 2014. His term took effect the following July.[5]
Biography
Randy Watson earned a Doctor of Education degree in secondary administration, school law, curriculum development and instructional leadership from Kansas State University. His career experience includes working as a superintendent for McPherson Public Schools and an adjunct professor for Baker University.[6]
Kansas Commissioner of Education (2015 - Present)
Watson has served as state commissioner of education for Kansas since July 1, 2015. He was appointed by the state board of education in November 2014 to succeed Diane DeBacker, who resigned the commissioner's post in April 2014 to take a job as an education adviser in the United Arab Emirates.[3]
About the office
The Kansas Commissioner of Education is a state executive position in the Kansas state government. The commissioner is appointed by the State Board of Education and oversees the day-to-day administrations of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The KSDE oversees the state’s K-12 education system, including standards and assessments, special education services, child nutrition and wellness, title programs and services, career and technical education, and financial aid.[7][8]
Appointments
2014
Watson was appointed Kansas commissioner of education by the state board of education in November 2014, for a term beginning July 1, 2015.[5]
Noteworthy events
Suspended without pay (2022)
On February 25, 2022, Watson submitted his letter of resignation after he received criticism for statements he made at a virtual conference. The Kansas State Board of Education rejected Watson's resignation and suspended him without pay for 30 days.[9]
Records from the conference showed that Watson made remarks about Native Americans while telling a story. Watson said, "I had some cousins in California. They were petrified of tornadoes. They'd come visit us in the summer. They'd be like 'Are we going to get killed by a tornado?' and I'd say 'Don't worry about that. But you've got to be worried about the Indians raiding the town at any time.' They really thought that. I guess growing up in California, you don't know much of the history of Kansas."[9]
On April 12, 2022, Watson apologized for his statement, saying, "I really let some people down and hurt people with things I said. The very people and groups of kids I tried to uplift every day, I failed to do so on that occasion."[10]
See also
| Kansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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- Superintendent of Schools
- Kansas Commissioner of Education
- Kansas school districts
- Kansas Department of Education
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Kansas Department of Education, "Office of the Commissioner," accessed July 1, 2015
- ↑ Kansas Department of Education, "Commissioner of Education," accessed June 21, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kansas Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker resigns for Abu Dhabi ed council," April 9, 2014
- ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Kansas ed board meeting seeks opinions on qualities for new commissioner," May 22, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kansas State Department of Education, "Press release: Highlights of the November Kansas State Board of Education Meeting," November 26, 2014
- ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "RANDALL D. WATSON," April 11, 2025
- ↑ Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "Kansas Statutes Chapter 72 - Schools," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Kansas State Department of Education, "About us," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Topeka Capital-Journal,"Kansas board rejects Randy Watson's resignation, suspends him over offensive comments," accessed April 1, 2022
- ↑ Kansas Reflector, "Kansas education commissioner publicly apologizes for racist story on Native Americans," April 12, 2022
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| Preceded by Brad Neuenswander |
Kansas Commissioner of Education 2015-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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