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# Former state education commissioner Randy Watson named interim dean at Pittsburg State
- URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/former-state-education-commissioner-randy-watson-named-interim-dean-at-pittsburg-state/
- Published: 2026-09-08T13:18:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-08T13:18:15.000Z
- Description: He succeeds Provost Susan Bon, who has served as the college's interim dean since 2025.
- Author: Greg Loving
- Tags: mcj, dnn, #news

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Randy Watson, the McPherson resident who was Kansas education commissioner when the state reported a record 90.5 percent graduation rate in 2025, will become interim dean of Pittsburg State University's College of Education on Oct. 1\. Watson, a Coffeyville native, spent 45 years in education, retiring in May after 11 years as commissioner, and was earlier an administrator in Concordia and in McPherson, the university said.

The college enrolls more than 1,500 students a year across three departments — Health, Human Performance and Recreation; Psychology and Counseling; and Teaching and Leadership — with educator preparation programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, according to the university. He steps in as a 2026 analysis by the Learning Policy Institute estimates more than 425,000 U.S. teaching positions are vacant or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments. The university's announcement said Kansas districts are working to fill critical positions.

The university said Watson's first step will be to listen to faculty, staff, students and school partners and to deepen partnerships with area schools and communities. "Education is changing, and the way we prepare educators has to change with it. We can't simply prepare teachers and school leaders for the schools we had 20 years ago. We must prepare them for the students, classrooms, technology, workforce expectations, and communities they will encounter tomorrow," Watson said in the announcement.

*This article was written using our proprietary AI system, Cronkite. The final decision to publish this article was made by a human. For more info, read our* [*AI policy*](https://www.citizenjournal.us/ai-policy/)*.*

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