The deadline to nominate candidates for Missouri Commissioner of Education position ended Friday with more than 40 names submitted.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff will contact nominees, inform them of their nominations and invite them to apply, a news release states.

Those interested in applying must complete an application packet at http://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/2014-Commissioner-Of-Education-Position-Announcement.pdf by Dec. 1. Candidates do not have to be nominated to apply.

After the nomination and application process, the State Board will go into closed session Dec. 5 to screen applicants. The field will be narrowed to three to five finalists.

DESE will release the names of finalists Dec. 8, and they will be interviewed by the board. After interviews with the finalists, the board will vote to name a new commissioner, the release said.

The new commissioner will replace Chris Nicastro, who announced her retirement effective at the end of the year.