Kirsten Baesler confirmed as assistant secretary of education by U.S. Senate

Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota’s state superintendent of public instruction, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the U.S. Department of Education. President Donald J. Trump nominated Baesler for the position earlier this year.

Baesler will be responsible for overseeing the federal office that shapes and supports K-12 education policy nationwide. In a statement following her confirmation, Baesler said, “I am honored, humbled, and incredibly excited to have received this final vote of confidence from the U.S. Senate. I am especially grateful to North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer for their support, their leadership, and their commitment to ensuring that the confirmation process moved forward for nominees committed to public service.”

Baesler, who is 56, was re-elected to her fourth four-year term as state superintendent in 2024. With her departure, Governor Kelly Armstrong will appoint a successor who will serve until a special election in 2026.

Her confirmation was part of a group of 108 Trump administration appointees approved by the Senate in a single vote, as listed in Senate Resolution 412. However, Baesler and other newly confirmed officials will not be able to begin their roles until the current federal government shutdown ends. She will retire from state government service to take up her new federal position once operational logistics are arranged and a transition is completed.

Baesler’s background includes a 24-year career in Bismarck public schools, where she worked as a vice principal, library media specialist, elementary teacher, and instructional assistant. She also served nine years on the Mandan school board, including seven years as president.

She is recognized as the nation’s longest-serving state education chief and has previously served as president and board member of the Council of Chief State School Officers.