TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dale Dennis, who has served 53 years in the Kansas State Department of Education, will retire effective Sept. 30, state officials announced Tuesday.

Dennis joined the education department in 1967 and was named deputy commissioner in 1976. He has been interim commissioner of education four times since July 1995.

As deputy commissioner of fiscal and administrative services, Dennis supervises the administration of about $5 billion in state and federal funds to school districts and nonpublic schools. He also has been liaison for the education department and the Kansas State Boa...