(a) The membership of the Professional Standards and Practices Commission shall consist of:

(b) Except for the representatives of the general public, the Governor in making appointments shall consider recommendations from panels of nominees submitted by Statewide educational organizations which certify that the panels include only representatives of the category of professional personnel for which the panel or panels of nominees are submitted. However, the Governor shall not be limited to nominating members of Statewide organizations for appointments to the commission.

(c) All members of the commission except the persons representing the general public shall have been actively engaged in teaching or providing related educational, administrative or supervisory services in a school entity or approved institution of higher education with approved teacher education programs for at least five of the eight years immediately preceding their appointment. A person appointed to the commission who leaves the Commonwealth to become domiciled in another state shall have his position on the commission deemed vacated. A person whose status changes to a category different from that for which that person was appointed may continue to serve on the commission for the remainder of that person's appointment or until replaced.

(d) The chairman of the State Board, or a member of the State Board designated by the chairman, shall be an ex officio member of the commission without voting privileges.

(e) The members of the commission, employes of the commission and agents of the commission shall in all of their deliberations consider the public interest, including ensuring the health, safety and welfare of students or other individuals in school entities.