Kirsten Baesler Starts New Job As State Superintendent - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

There's a new person on the job at the State Capitol.

Today Kirsten Baesler starts her duties as North Dakota's new State Superintendent.

She's busy unpacking boxes and getting her office organized before the legislative session begins next week.

She says it's an exciting time to become State Superintendent with the growth schools are experiencing across the state.

"I find education extremely rewarding, there is such an opportunity before us in North Dakota to do great things in education in our K-12 system and we can help them achieve whatever they want to achieve and inspire what they want to inspire to be," Kirsten Baesler said.

Baesler replaces long time State Superintendent Dr. Wayne Sanstead.

Sanstead served as State Superintendent for 28 years before retiring.

Baelser says the transition with Dr. Sanstead couldn't have gone any better.

"We had met several times, I'd been up to the department, the office on numerous times between November sixth and when I took office, so I don't even feel like this is my first day," Baesler said.

In addition to unpacking, Baesler is spending her day introducing herself to others in the Capitol and planning for next weeks legislative session.