Kansas State Board of Education member Carolyn Campbell will host focus group sessions in Lawrence and Topeka next week to solicit public input on the hiring of a new education commissioner.

The state board is searching to replace Diane DeBacker, who resigned recently to accept a job as advisor to the director general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

The Kansas education commissioner is the chief officer of the state’s public school system and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the State Department of Education. The person is hired by, and reports to, the State Board of Education, a 10-member body elected by the public.

The focus group session in Lawrence is one of a series of such meetings being conducted in several state board districts. Campbell, D-Topeka, represents District 4, which includes Lawrence and eastern Douglas County, as well as Shawnee, Jefferson, Osage and part of Wabaunsee counties.

Campbell will host two focus group sessions in her district next week. The first will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Topeka school district’s Burdett Administrative Center, 624 SW 24th St.

The second will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lawrence school district’s administrative office, 110 McDonald Drive.