Ridder, Hayter up for education commissioner job

Former Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Norm Ridder and current Branson Public Schools Superintendent Doug Hayter are among five finalists for the commissioner post at the State Board of Education.

The chosen candidate would succeed Chris Nicastro, who is retiring Dec. 31. The five were chosen from 12 applications by State Board of Education members during a Dec. 5 executive session. Over 40 names were submitted as nominees for the job last month, according to a news release.

The other finalists are:

• C.J. Huff, superintendent of Joplin School District;
• Terry Adams, former superintendent of the Rockwood and Wentzville school districts; and
• Margaret Vandeven, deputy commissioner of education - division of learning services.

"The State Board members are looking for the person who can make Missouri a top 10 state for education by 2020," said Board President Peter Herschend, co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment Corp., in the release. "We believe we have a strong list of finalists, and we will find the right person to lead us there."

Candidate interviews are slated for next week.

Former SPS Superintendent Ridder started in July as interim superintendent for the over 10,000-student Mehlville School District in St. Louis, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.