Governor Terry Branstad has named an Iowa native to lead the Iowa Department of Education during a search for a permanent leader. The governor appointed 42-year-old Duane “D-T” Magee to be the interim director of the department beginning Monday.
Magee is the executive director of the board which licenses teachers in Iowa, and will hold the position will also leading the Education Department. Magee was previously the assistant superintendent for human resources in the Waukee School District and prior to that was a principal in the Harlan Community School District.
Magee replaces Jason Glass, who is leaving to become the new leader of a school district in Colorado. Glass was chosen by the governor as the state’s top education official in December of 2010.
The governor says he is conducting a nationwide search to find a new director for the department.