Gov. Jay Nixon announced today — Friday — that he has appointed Lindbergh Board of Education President Vic Lenz to the Missouri State Board of Education.

Lenz served as president of the Missouri School Boards’ Association in 2011-2012. He has been a member of Lindbergh’s school board for nine years. Lenz will resign from the Lindbergh Board of Education because State Board of Education members are not permitted to serve a local school district board term concurrently, according to a district news release.

A district resident for 64 years, Lenz has also contributed to Lindbergh Schools as a teacher, guidance counselor, principal and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, the release stated.

“Dr. Lenz is a true friend of Lindbergh who has served the district’s students, staff and residents with unwavering dedication, generously sharing his educational expertise and commitment to always do what is best for children,” Superintendent Jim Simpson stated in the release. “We will miss him at Lindbergh, but we wish him all the best in this new opportunity, which will allow him to serve students statewide.”

Lenz’s background in education also includes serving as a member and president of the St. Louis Curriculum Coordinators Association and the Show Me Curriculum Administrators Association; as chairman of the St. Louis Character Education Development Team; as a board member of the Lindbergh Foundation; and as a member of the Missouri DESE Science Leadership Development Team. He also has had leadership roles in several civic, charitable, religious and youth organizations in the St. Louis area.

Lenz earned his doctorate degree in education administration from St. Louis University.

The governor has appointed Lenz to a term ending July 1, 2019.

The State Board of Education sets accreditation standards for local school districts, including minimum high school graduation standards and basic requirements for curriculum, staffing and student testing; establishes academic performance standards for public schools; sets education and certification requirements for all professional personnel in public schools (teachers, administrators, librarians, counselors); approves professional education programs in the state’s community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, both public and private; and establishes regulations and administrative requirements for the distribution of state and federal funds to school districts.