DES MOINES, Iowa – On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that Dr. Ann Lebo will lead the Iowa Department of Education, effective Friday, March 13, 2020.
“Having served as an instructor, school administrator, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners executive director and on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, among other roles, Dr. Ann Lebo has a broad depth of experience in Iowa’s education system,” Reynolds said. “Ann will be an important partner in preparing our students for the challenges of the 21st century.”
“I am grateful to the Governor for the opportunity to serve the state of Iowa and our greatest gift to the future, which is our schools,” Lebo said. “I am excited about what lies ahead for education in Iowa.”
The position became available after current director, Ryan Wise, accepted a new position as dean of the School of Education at Drake University.
“I want to thank Ryan Wise for his outstanding commitment to preK-12 education in Iowa,” Reynolds continued. “He leaves behind a meaningful legacy that includes helping launch Iowa’s nationally recognized teacher leadership initiative. We wish him well in his new role at Drake University.”
Dr. Ann Lebo is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners since 2016. She was previously a secondary principal in Grundy Center, an adjunct faculty member in education and leadership at Waldorf University, and serves as Iowa’s Chief Talent Officer for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Lebo was an athletic coach and English instructor at the secondary and postsecondary levels for 17 years and worked in the private sector for five years. Lebo also served on the statewide Teacher Leadership and Compensation Task Force in 2012 and was appointed to the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council in 2017. Dr. Lebo holds an Ed.D. and Ed.S. both in Educational Administration, a M.A. in English Language and Literature, a B.A. in English Education, and a B.A. in Speech Communication.