*161.026.  Teacher representative on state board of education, qualifications, term, vacancy — expiration date. — 1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 161.032 or any other provision of law, the governor shall, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint a teacher representative to the state board of education who shall attend all meetings and participate in all deliberations of the board.  The teacher representative shall not have the right to vote on any matter before the board or be counted in establishing a quorum under section 161.082.

  2.  The teacher representative shall be an active classroom teacher.  For purposes of this section, "active classroom teacher" means a resident of the state of Missouri who is a full-time teacher with at least five years of teaching experience in the state of Missouri, who is certified to teach under the laws governing the certification of teachers in Missouri, and who is not on leave at the time of the appointment to the position of teacher representative.  The teacher representative shall have the written support of the local school board prior to accepting the appointment.

  3.  The term of the teacher representative shall be four years, and appointments made under this section shall be made in rotation from each congressional district beginning with the first congressional district and continuing in numerical order.

  4.  If a vacancy occurs for any reason in the position of teacher representative, the governor shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, a replacement for the unexpired term.  Such replacement shall be a resident of the same congressional district as the teacher representative being replaced, shall meet the qualifications set forth under subsection 2 of this section, and shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.  If the general assembly is not in session at the time for making an appointment, the governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next session of the general assembly, when the governor shall nominate a person to fill the position of teacher representative.

  5.  If the teacher representative ceases to be an active classroom teacher, as defined under subsection 2 of this section, or fails to follow the board's attendance policy, the teacher representative's position shall immediately become vacant unless an absence is caused by sickness or some accident preventing the teacher representative's arrival at the time and place appointed for the meeting.

  6.  The teacher representative shall receive the same reimbursement for expenses as members of the state board of education receive under section 161.022.

  7.  At no time shall more than one nonvoting member serve on the state board of education.

  8.  The provisions of this section shall expire on August 28, 2025.