photo by: Contributed

Jake Steel was announced to be the next education commissioner by the Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

The Kansas State Board of Education has named Jake Steel as the next state commissioner of education on Tuesday.

Steel is currently the director of strategy and operational alignment at the KSDE, where his work has helped secure $26 million in federal funding for Kansas schools and expanding professional learning opportunities for educators, a press release from the KDSE said.

“I am grateful to the State Board for the opportunity to serve as the next commissioner. This work is deeply personal to me as someone raised in Kansas public schools and now raising my family here,” Steel said in the release. “I’m ready to get to work carrying out the State Board’s vision, partnering with superintendents across the state, and building a strong path forward that expands opportunities for every Kansas student.”

Before joining KSDE, Steel was a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Education and a White House Fellow on the Domestic Policy Council. His work focused on education policy, innovation and cross-system collaboration. He earned a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University, a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

“Dr. Steel brings a clear vision for the future of education in Kansas and a proven ability to lead complex, statewide work,” Board Chair Cathy Hopkins said in the release. “The board looks forward to working with him to continue the progress underway and keep moving this work forward for Kansas students.”

Steel’s appointment follows a national search conducted by the State Board. He will begin serving in the role on June 1, succeeding current commissioner Randy Watson. Watson, who has served as a commissioner since 2015, announced his retirement last fall.