Missouri Senate Confirms Governor's Education Board Appointments

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s overhaul of the State Board of Education is nearly complete, with the state Senate confirming most of his new appointments and longtime leadership being replaced. The process has been contentious, with particular scrutiny on nominee Thomas Prater due to past involvement in hiring a superintendent who promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and concerns raised about Prater's political donations and affiliations. After criticism from both a Republican state senator and a national conservative group, Kehoe withdrew Prater’s nomination, avoiding a Senate rejection that would have barred him from future service. The Board, by law, cannot be dominated by one political party, and Prater was nominated as an independent. Other nominees, including Brooks Miller, were confirmed without controversy. The governor’s office stated that the new appointments reflect priorities like increased school accountability and support for non-traditional education options.