Karla Eslinger went from teaching in tiny Theodosia, Missouri, to running one school district and then another. She advocated for public schools at the state and national level. More recently, she leapt from the Missouri General Assembly to the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Her lifelong commitment to education and public service put her in the role of decision-maker and constant learner.

Missouri's seventh Commissioner of Education, she entered the job July 1 with layers of experience and perspective she hopes will allow her to serve students and teachers in rural, suburban and urban districts.

"We are on the verge of doing some really, really good things in education. It's kind of like COVID is in the rearview mirror and we're starting to go down the path," she said.

Buoyed by federal pandemic relief funds, school leaders were able to create stability and start to address issues exacerbated by the pandemic, she said, from the student attendance and achievement challenges to recruiting and retaining enough qualified teachers.

"We've seen so many times where it was just tough," she said. "I'm here at the right time when people are ready to brush that stuff off. Let's get started."

She has high expectations and wants to build momentum and achieve results. She is a straight-talker but also relentlessly upbeat, unwilling to give up when the work is hard and the obstacles are formidable.

"We're doing really good things that are good for kids. We've got to be able to raise the literacy level. We've got to be able to increase math competencies, all of those things," she said. "But I feel a little more of an energy toward it, that people are excited about getting the work done."

The former classroom teacher, K-8 and K-12 principal was superintendent in Ava and West Plains.

She taught at the university level, preparing school leaders, and worked at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — which she now leads — before stepping into a federal-level education role that involved working with districts in Boston, Houston and Los Angeles.

She served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 and was in the Missouri Senate when she was named education commissioner, succeeding Margie Vandeven .

Eslinger, part of a family of educators, said she wants students to achieve their goals and for educators to feel supported and appreciated.

"My message has always been, and continues to be, that what you do matters," she said.

One of her guiding sentiments comes from American author Garrison Keillor: "Nothing you do for children is ever wasted."

Who paved the way for you?

Eslinger credits her mother with setting the example to follow. "She wasn't really somebody saying 'I want you to be a teacher' but boy she expected a lot. She was one of those moms, when she said jump you said 'How high?' It was one of those things where she had high expectations and she really and truly had this sense that you take care of yourself, you work hard."

Who are you paving the way for?

"Just people who are really invested in the quality of programs for kids, people who really and truly want to help the next generation."

"If I'm paving the way, I'm hoping it's so we can do really good work, so that people can build upon it."

She said if that happens, others will benefit. "That kid who has a dream, let's make sure they have the skills necessary to obtain that dream."

What is your proudest moment?

Eslinger said her proudest moment in life isn't career-related, it comes from her family.

"I have two daughters and when they became moms, they're really good moms. They're great, wonderful parents. My grandkids are very fortunate."

In her long career, there have been other payoffs, like the student who didn't like math but she was able to change that, or the times she led a school team to tackle big challenges.

"That is a pretty proud moment when you move a district in the right direction, when you're able to put some things in place where your community is cheerleading your school district and the kids are proud to be part of that system," she said. "That's a proud day."

What is your lowest moment?

"There are times in your career when you're working really, really, really hard and you just can't make it, you can't get something done."

Eslinger recalled times when she went to her car at the end of the day and felt defeated, temporarily. In those moments, she has asked herself if she wants to keep going, keep fighting.

"I don't really get down too much. I'm pretty much a person who always thinks there is a different way of doing it. Let's think about this and we can get it done."

She added: "I always think that there will be a better tomorrow."

What is your definition of courage?

"Courage is when you're scared to death but you do it anyway."

Is there a guiding principle or mantra you tell yourself?

"There is an old saying that 'This too shall pass' so no matter how tough it gets, no matter how wonderful it is, the idea that 'This too shall pass' so you take the time to relish the great moments and you don't get too worried or tangled up when it gets really bad because it will pass as well."

Eslinger said she also believes in searching for joy and being grateful.

Who do you look up to?

Eslinger said who she looks up to changes, depending on the situation she is facing at the time.

She admires leaders who want to make a change or create opportunities for the next generation.

"I look up to people who stay the course, that continue with the work, that don't just go from one thing to another and bounce."

She is not interested in leaders who are driven by money or their own agenda.

"I've always looked up to leaders who care about community, school, people, kids."

How do you overcome adversity?

Eslinger said she dives down to the root problem and tries not to just see the symptoms that it creates.

In dealing with others, she works to find common ground and not take opposition or criticism personally.

"I will do what I believe is absolutely right but I also try to get that person to understand my decisions, what I'm doing, why I'm doing it."

She said listening and communicating are critically important, especially in the tough times.

"You continue to come to the table, continue to have those conversations."

What advice would you give your younger self?

Eslinger recalled the days she was working, raising a family and furthering her education at the same time. Her family also ran a farm and a business.

"The thing I probably would have told my younger self is you could have slowed down a little bit because I just constantly pushed. I got the specialist (degree) ... I finished my doctorate and all of those really didn't have to happen as fast as I thought they did. I should have slowed down a bit and taken more time with some of the stuff I enjoy."