FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2008

GOVERNOR BARBOUR APPOINTS KAASE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL

(JACKSON, Mississippi)—Governor Haley Barbour has appointed Dr. Kris Kaase, of Brandon, to the State Early Childhood Advisory Council, a newly-established council that meets requirements in the federal Head Start Reauthorization Act of 2007. Designed to advance the development of a coordinated state early childhood system, the Council will provide leadership and assistance to early care and education programs as well as state agencies that provides services for children from birth to school entry.

“Kris has an impressive record of educational service, and I know he will be an effective member of this board as we work to improve our state’s early childhood education system so our children are ready to learn by age five,” Governor Barbour said.

Kaase is associate state superintendent of the State Department of Education, where he has previously served as director of student assessment. His educational background also includes working at the school district and university levels in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is a member of the National Assessment Governing Board Policy Task Force and the National Center for Education Statistics Assessment Permanent Standing Task Force.

A graduate of West George College, Kaase holds a bachelor’s degree from the institution. He earned a master’s degree and doctoral degree from North Carolina State University. He and his wife, Leah, have been married 23 years; together, they have three children, Hannah, Joel, and Jordan.