Dale Dennis
Dale Dennis, deputy commission of education at Kansas State Department of Education, is widely regarded by teachers, school administrators, state policymakers, education advocates/organizations, and the courts for his knowledge and expertise in the areas of school finance and administration.
Dennis graduated from Blue Mound High School in eastern Kansas and was a teacher and principal before going to the Kansas State Department of Education in 1967. He has served four times as interim Kansas Commissioner of Education.
Dale has served for more than 50 years at the Kansas State Department of Education providing countless hours of assistance and guidance to school administrators across the state of Kansas, who rely upon the guidance of Dale Dennis in ensuring the financial viability of public education for millions of students.
As deputy commissioner of education, currently supervises the administration of approximately $5 billion of state and federal funds, which flow through the department to unified school districts and nonpubic schools. He serves as the legislative liaison for the State Board of Education and to the Legislature and the Governor, managing all information and projects related to school finance and education legislation. Dale Dennis also maintains the responsibility of keeping the State Board of Education, agency staff, and local education agencies informed on education legislation issues.
Throughout his years of service to Kansas education Dale Dennis has received numerous awards from education organizations and institutions of higher education as well as from Kansas Governors Robert Bennett and John Carlin. He was inducted into the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 1986 Dale Dennis was recognized by the Kansas Association of School Business Officials, who awarded their first Distinguished Award to dale Dennis and later renamed the awarded the "Dale Dennis Distinguished Service Award" honoring people for their outstanding contributions to education i Kansas. Additionally, United School Administrators of Kansas developed the Dale M. Dennis Excellence in Education Award in 1996 to provide schools the opportunity to recognize a senior for his/her citizenship, scholarship, and demonstration of self-awareness. He was named the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas 2019 Kansan of the Year.
Entry: Dale Dennis
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: February 2020
Date Modified: February 2020
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
