Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Commissioner Alice Seagren, Commissioner Susan Heegaard and State Senator Gen Olson as members of the Minnesota delegation to the Education Commission of the States. Governor Pawlenty also announced the appointment of State Representative John Berns to replace former Representative Barb Sykora on the Commission.

Seagren, of Bloomington, is the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education. She served six terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives. During her tenure in the legislature, Seagren chaired the House Education Finance Committee and was a member of the Education Policy and Education Finance committees. She is a former member of the Bloomington School Board and is a current member of the Normandale Community College Foundation Board.

Heegaard, of St. Paul, is the Commssioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. She is a member of the State Higher Education Executive Officers and serves as chair for its Accountability Committee. Heegard is the former policy director for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. She holds a juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.

Olson, of Minnetrista, is the State Senator for District 33. She was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1982 and is serving in her eighth term. Sen. Olson is the ranking minority member on the Senate Education Policy Committee and the Senate Education Finance Committee. She received a B.S. in Education and an Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Berns, of Wayzata, is the State Representative for District 33B. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 and is serving in his first term. Berns is a former felony prosecutor and an attorney in private practice. Berns currently serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Wayzata Fire Department. He previously served as a member of the Wayzata City Council and as a board member for the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. Rep. Berns replaces Rep. Barb Sykora on the Commission.

The Education Commission of the States is an interstate compact created in 1965 to improve public education by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas and experiences among state policymakers and education leaders. A highly-respected national organization, the Commission is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The Minnesota delegation consists of seven members, including the Governor.