The new commissioner of Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education made her first school tour in the role Wednesday afternoon, paying a visit to Santa Fe R-X Schools.

Karla Eslinger, who assumed the role in July, briefly addressed students at the end of her tour at Santa Fe High School. She tells KMMO News she’s pleased to have received the invite from superintendent Derek Lark to visit the district.

Eslinger says she’s looking to identify her priorities as she visits Santa Fe and many of the 550 other school districts across Missouri.

She adds that she wants to be a promoter of the accomplishments that schools around the state have made.

DESE Commissioner Karla Eslinger previously taught elementary and middle school, and most recently represented Ozark County in the Missouri Senate.