October 29, 2007

Kentucky Commissioner Finalists Named

The Kentucky Board of Education announced the names of four of the five finalists for Commissioner of Education. (The remaining finalist’s name will be released after that individual is contacted and confirms his or her continued interest in the position.)

The vast majority of the candidates are current or former Kentuckians- something many members of the board were looking for after a previous search resulted in the candidate resigning amid questions about her experience.

The finalists are:

- Jon Draud, state representative for the 63rd District and a former superintendent of the Ludlow Independent school district

- Richard Hughes, a professor at Morehead State University and former superintendent of the Hardin County school district

- Larry Vick, superintendent of the Owensboro Independent school district

- Jim Warford, executive director/CEO of the Florida Association of School Administrators and a former chancellor for Florida’s public schools

The board's goal is to name a new commissioner by Nov. 13, but board Chairman Joe Brothers said some details may not be final by then. Brothers said the board wants the public and the media to help vet the candidates to avoid the problems it had with the last search. "We're counting on the entire state and those educators in our communities in the commonwealth to help us."