State Commissioners of Education
The office of State Superintendent
of Public Instruction was created in 1835. By Legislative
Act in 1843, which went in effect in 1844, the office
was abolished. The following Superintendents were elected
by the Legislature:
| Robert H. McEwen |
1835-1840 |
| Robert P. Currin |
1840-1841 |
| Scott Terry |
1841-1844 |
From 1844 to 1867, the State Treasurer
was ex-officio Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In 1867, the office was again created. The following
Superintendents were elected by the people and served
for the respective periods shown below:
| John Eaton, Jr. |
1867-1869 |
| A. J. Tipton |
1869-1871 |
In 1870, the office was again abolished,
and the duties devolved upon the State Treasurer, who
was made ex-officio Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In 1873, the office was recreated, and the following
officers, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by
the Senate, have served the terms shown below:
| J. B. Killebrew* |
|
| John M. Flemings |
1873-1875 |
| Leon Trousdale |
1875-1881 |
| W. S. Doak |
1881-1882** |
| Julia A. Doak |
3 mos. ending July, 1882*** |
| G. S. Crawford |
1882-1883*** |
| Thomas H. Paine |
1883-1887 |
| Frank M. Smith |
1887-1891 |
| W. R. Garrett |
1891-1893 |
| S. G. Gilbreath |
1895-1897 |
| Price Thomas |
1897-1899 |
| Morgan C. Fitzpatrick |
1899-1903 |
| Seymour A. Mynders |
1903-1907 |
| R. L. Jones |
1907-1911 |
| J. W. Brister |
1911-1913 |
| S. J. Thompson |
1913-1915*** |
| S. W. Sherrill |
1915-1919 |
| Albert Williams |
1919-1921 |
| J. B. Brown |
1921-1923 |
Under the reorganization bill of 1923, the State Department
of Public Instruction became the State Department of
Education.
- * Assistant State Superintendent, 1870-1873
- ** Died in Office.
- *** Filled unexpired term
The title of the chief state school officer
was changed to Commissioner of Education.
| P. L. Harned |
1923-1933 |
| Walter D. Cocking |
1933-1937 |
| W. A. Bass |
1937-1938 |
| J. M. Smith |
1938 |
| Halbert Harville |
1938-1939 |
| B. O. Duggan |
1939-1945 |
| Burgin E. Dossett |
1945-1949 |
| J. M. Smith |
1949-1950 |
| J. A. Barksdale |
1950-1953 |
| Quill E. Cope |
1953-1958 |
| Joe Morgan |
1958-1963 |
| J. H. Warf |
1963-1971 |
| E. C. Stimbert |
1971-1972 |
| Benjamin E. Carmichael |
1972-1975 |
| Sam H. Ingram |
1975-1979 |
| Otis L. Floyd |
1979 |
| E. A. Cox |
1979-1980 |
| Robert L. McElrath |
1981-1987 |
| Charles E. Smith |
1987-1993 |
| Wayne Qualls |
1994-1995 |
| Jane Walters |
1995-1999 |
| E. Vernon Coffey |
1999-2001 |
| Faye P. Taylor |
2001-2003 |
| Lana C. Seivers |
2003 |
|
