The Iowa Senate recently confirmed the governor’s appointment to head up the Iowa Department of Education.

Governor Kim Reynolds appointed McKenzie Snow to be the Iowa Department of Education Director in June of 2023, following the resignation of Chad Aldis who was the director for four months. She was then confirmed by the Senate last week to be the director. District 24 Senator Jesse Green (R-Boone) voted to confirm Snow.

“I interviewed her personally. I thought that of all the different people I’ve met in government and public service, I think she’s the most qualified I’ve met. Her background is just so vast and incredible.”  

He says her background was impressive with serving in the US Department of Education during the Trump Administration, along with serving in the US Department of Revenue, and in different departments for the states of New Hampshire and Virginia, where she oversaw 4,400 employees for the Virginia Department of Education.

Green points out Snow started when the new Education Savings Accounts were being implemented, as well as helped during this legislative session’s discussion on the Area Education Agencies. Green states that even though Snow has a degree in political science, he thought she was the right choice to lead the education department.

“(It) Really lands on the director’s character, people skills and what their capabilities are and competency is. And she is the most competent I’ve ever seen.” 

The confirmation needed a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, which Green says the Republican Party held that exact advantage and Snow was confirmed on a strict party-line vote, with all Democrats voting against.