Meet the Commissioner
The Commissioner oversees major parts of the agency and helps make sure schools follow state and federal education laws. This office also guides important programs and provides leadership to improve learning for all Kansas students.
Biography
Dr. Jake Steel serves as the Kansas Commissioner of Education, leading the Kansas State Department of Education and working in partnership with the Kansas State Board of Education to implement its vision for K–12 education across the state.
A product of Kansas public schools, Dr. Steel brings both personal connection and professional experience to the role.
Prior to becoming commissioner, Dr. Steel served as director of strategy and operational alignment at KSDE, where he led major initiatives to strengthen alignment across the agency, expand supports for educators and school systems, and secure critical resources for Kansas students. His work included helping obtain more than $26 million in federal funding and expanding professional learning opportunities statewide.
Dr. Steel’s career spans classroom teaching, federal policy and state leadership. He began his career as a math teacher before serving as a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Education and as a White House Fellow on the Domestic Policy Council, where he focused on education policy and cross-system collaboration.
He holds a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University–Idaho.
As commissioner, Dr. Steel focuses on strengthening alignment across Kansas’ education system, helping districts use data effectively to improve outcomes, and ensuring schools have the tools and support needed to expand opportunities for every student
