BUILT TO LAST
FEBRUARY 2026
A PUBLICATION OF THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
2 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
TAKE NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PEOPLE ARE TALKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
BEYOND THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
EDUCATION BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
IN CONVERSATION WITH . . . . . . . . . 20-21
BLACK HISTORY MONTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
VOLUME 31 | NUMBER 6
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Follow KSBA for education news, association updates, upcoming events and more
/company/ksba
ksba.org
8
2026 Elections
Several current and former school board
members are seeking to join the General
Assembly, while another board member
is running for countywide office. See all
of education-related candidates after the
January filing deadline passed.
9
New directors-at-large
Four new director-at-large candidates
for KSBA’s Board of Directors are up for
ratification at KSBA’s Annual Conference.
10 Built to Last
Make the most of your experience at
KSBA’s Annual Conference Feb. 20-22.
11 Celebrating 90!
Over the past 90 years, KSBA has gone
from a small meeting of 25 local board
members to the leading advocate for
public school boards in the state. Take a
look back on the association’s history.
/KSBAnews
PG 8
@KSBAnews
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 3
PG 11
Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Pamela Morehead,
President
Eminence Ind.
Jeremy Luckett,
President-elect
Owensboro Ind.
Karen Byrd,
Immediate Past President
Boone Co.
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
Hannah Barnes,
Anchorage Ind.
Chris Cook,
Crittenden Co.
Susan Duncan,
Scott Co.
Carmela Fletcher-Green,
Montgomery Co.
John Matt Fourshee,
Carlisle Co.
Joanna Freels,
Shelby Co.
Tom Haggard,
Covington Ind.
Debbie Hammers,
Butler Co.
Venita Murphy,
Webster Co.
Angela Parsons-Woods,
Rockcastle Co.
Brandon Rutherford,
Madison Co.
David Turner,
Walton-Verona Ind.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Tom Bell,
Christian Co.
Becky Burgett,
Gallatin Co.
Jason Collins,
Anderson Co.
Pat Hall,
Campbellsville Ind.
Ruschelle Hamilton,
Breathitt Co.
Jimmy Hinkle,
Barbourville Ind.
Vanessa Lucas,
Breckinridge Co.
Brenda Mattox,
Nicholas Co.
Kathleen Price,
Martin Co.
Mark Rich,
Edmonson Co.
Christine Thompson,
Livingston Co.
Allie Wright,
Trimble Co.
PG 10
4 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS
Weathering the Storm
I don’t care that the groundhog saw his shadow. I’m over the winter weather.
Ice, snow and subzero temperatures have a way of testing our patience, our preparation, and
sometimes our judgment. As frustrating as winter storms can be, they offer a useful reminder of what
effective leadership looks like – especially for school board members navigating complex decisions in
uncertain conditions.
When a winter storm is forecast, preparation becomes essential. Milk and bread: check. Snow shovel:
check. Gas in the generator: check. Devices charged. Faucets dripping. We know from experience that
waiting until the storm hits is too late. The same is true in governance. Strong boards don’t wait for a
crisis to get ready – they plan, ask questions, and prepare long before conditions deteriorate.
Knowing the conditions before starting your journey matters just as much. Before heading out, we
check the forecast, the road conditions and whether our cars are up to the task. We decide whether the
trip is necessary at all. Likewise, school board members, in close collaboration with their central office
teams, must fully understand the conditions of their district before making major decisions. Whether
considering a new facility project, hiring a superintendent or adopting a budget, context matters. Data
matters. Timing matters. Moving forward without understanding the terrain can be dangerous.
Whether it’s on the side of the highway, in a grocery store parking lot, or in your own driveway, most
of us have experienced that moment when the wheels spin and progress stops. Getting stuck is a
humbling lesson we all learn eventually. Simply giving it more gas only digs the ruts deeper. Eventually,
we realize we need help – a push, a tow or a friendly neighbor with a shovel.
Leadership works the same way. Boards can become stuck in patterns, conflicts or assumptions that
prevent real progress. Pushing harder doesn’t always solve the problem. Sometimes the most effective
move is to pause, seek outside perspective, ask clarifying questions or rely on expertise. That requires
humility. Asking for help doesn’t signal weakness; it signals wisdom and a commitment to moving
forward responsibly.
Clear vision is another winter necessity. On cold mornings, waiting for the windshield to defrost can
add 10 or 15 minutes to an already rushed routine. It’s inconvenient, but necessary. You wouldn’t drive
with an obscured windshield and hope for the best. You take the time to clear your view so you can see
where you’re going.
For school boards, that clarity comes from shared vision and purpose. When priorities are foggy or
communication is unclear, progress slows and risks increase. Effective boards invest time in goal
setting, superintendent alignment, and community understanding so decisions are guided by a clear
line of sight to student success.
Finally, winter reminds us that storms pass – but how we handle them matters. Calm leadership,
steady communication and trust built before the storm make all the difference. School board members
who stay grounded, informed and focused during challenging moments help their districts not only
survive the storm, but emerge stronger on the other side.
Preparation, perspective, humility and clarity aren’t just tools for icy roads – they’re essentials for
effective leadership.
Stay warm!
Josh Shoulta
KSBA Associate Executive Director
2026 Kentucky Teacher of
the Year named national
award finalist
Michelle Gross, a
middle school teacher
at Spencer County
Middle School and
the 2026 Kentucky
Teacher of the Year,
has been named a
finalist for the 2026
National Teacher of
the Year award by the Council of Chief
State School Officers (CCSSO).
“To be named a finalist for the Na
tional Teacher of the Year award is a
tremendous honor for Mrs. Gross and
for Kentucky as a whole,” said Education
Commissioner Robbie Fletcher. “She is a
shining example of how providing stu
dents with vibrant learning experiences
can set them up for success.”
Gross has taught mathematics for 22
years, including 20 years in Spencer
County. She teaches 7th-grade math
and a gifted and talented class called
The Academy where students pick a
subject area to dig into deeper. Gross
was among nine educators who were
honored during the Kentucky Teacher of
the Year ceremony on Oct. 7.
“It is so rewarding to see Mrs. Gross
recognized nationally. She is a shining
example of what we’ve known about
Kentucky educators all along, that
they are dedicated to their students,
their families and their communities,”
Fletcher said.
CCSSO runs the National Teacher
of the Year Program with Google for
Education as the lead sponsor. From a
cohort of 56 State Teachers of the Year,
the National Teacher of the Year Selec
tion Committee selected the finalists
who also include:
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 5
TAKE NOTE
• Katie Collins, the 2026 Alabama
Teacher of the Year.
• Rachel Kinsaul, the 2026 Georgia
Teacher of the Year.
• Linda Wallenberg, the 2026 Min
nesota Teacher of the Year.
• Leon Smith, the 2026 Pennsylvania
Teacher of the Year.
The finalists will interview with the
National Teacher of the Year Selection
Committee, and CCSSO will announce
the 2026 National Teacher of the Year
this spring.
East Bernstadt Independent
board member dies
Longtime East
Bernstadt Indepen
dent Schools board
member Tom Caudel
died Jan. 10. He was
75. Caudel served
on the board for 28
years.
“He was not only an exceptional
board member but also an incredible
individual,” the district stated. “His loss
will be deeply felt by both our school
and the wider community.”
In addition to his board service, he
served as board chairman for Jesus
& Izzy Ministries and volunteered on
special projects with Cumberland Valley
Domestic Violence Services.
Caudel was a civil engineer for Elmo
Greer & Sons for 45 years and later
worked for 7 Earth Movers.
Caudel is survived by his wife Shirley
Milwee Caudel; two children, Rachel
Tomara Caudel & husband Jeremy
Arnold of Louisville, and Jolene Rice of
London, Ky.
Services were held on Jan. 13. Dona
tions can be made to Jesus and Izzy
Ministries or the Cumberland Valley
Domestic Violence Service.
Special education class sizes
and caseloads
The Kentucky Board of Education
(KBE) recently approved revisions
to 707 KAR 1:002 and 707 KAR
1:350 relating to special education
placement decisions, including revi
sions to clarify how maximum class
sizes and teacher caseloads should
be determined.
Melody Cooper, policy advisor with
KDE’s Office of Special Education and
Early Learning, said the revisions
include a reference to KRS 157.360,
which authorizes the commissioner of
education to enforce special education
maximum class sizes set by administra
tive regulations adopted by KBE.
Other revisions include adding a
definition for special education classes
and clarifying how maximum class sizes
should be determined when there are
students from more than one disabil
ity category in a special class. In those
situations, the district should use the
disability category of the majority of
the students in the special class to make
decisions about class size.
The recommended changes also
include allowing superintendents or
local school councils to request a waiver
relating to maximum class sizes for
special education classes.
Cooper explained class sizes and
caseloads did not change or increase.
She said KDE typically approves waivers
for certain situations and the amend
ments KBE members approved are an
effort to eliminate paperwork for waiver
requests for those situations.
Kentucky School
Boards Association
260 Democrat Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601
800-372-2962 | ksba.org
The Kentucky School Advocate is published 10 times a year by
the Kentucky School Boards Association. Copies are mailed to
KSBA members as part of their association membership.
Executive Director: Kerri Schelling
Associate Executive Director: Josh Shoulta
Communications Director: Brenna Kelly
Association Engagement Manager: Matt McCarty
Gross
Caudel
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“I have no confidence that this is at
all going to look like what our working
budget is going to look like, because
we don’t know what state legislation is
going to look like or what our staffing
allocation is going to be.”
Shaunna Cornwell, Bowling Green Independent Schools finance director, on
drafting the district’s working budget that the board must approve by Jan. 30.
From the Bowling Green Daily News
Henry Webb
“Our board
members are the
unsung heroes
of our district’s
progress. They
make difficult
decisions with grace and always
filter their choices through one
primary lens: What is best for the
students of Kenton County! Their
leadership allows us to provide
top-tier academic and extra/co-
curricular opportunities that are
truly second to none.”
Henry Webb, Kenton County Schools
superintendent, recognizing the Kenton County
school board members during School Board
Recognition Month.
From LinkNKY
Greg Sutton
“It’s hard to
keep a student’s
attention for
over three hours
and 35 minutes
on a test, and I
think that this will allow kids to
showcase what they really know,
and what they could achieve.”
Greg Sutton, Hardin County Schools chief
academic officer, on the state’s switch from
the ACT to the SAT. Sutton said about 1,100
students in his district will be taking the SAT
this spring.
From WAVE-TV, Louisville
Ramona
Malone
“We need
someone that
believes that all
kids can learn
and they value
the partnership of parents, all
stakeholders – parents, community
members, not just be aware, but
value. That’s what I want.”
Ramona Malone, Newport Independent
Schools board chair, on selecting from the 12
candidates who applied to be the district’s new
superintendent. The search is being facilitated
by KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service.
From LinkNKY
Robbie
Fletcher
“We want to
make sure
that we have
the best and
brightest, but we
also need to compensate them,
because we want them to be able
to raise a family comfortably. We
want to make sure that they have
a competitive wage with those
around us. That way they want to go
into the field and, more importantly,
stay in Kentucky.”
Robbie Fletcher, Kentucky Education
commissioner, on the Kentucky Board of
Education’s legislative priority of increasing
teacher salaries.
From the Kentucky Lantern
6 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
““I’ve seen firsthand how this
program builds confidence,
discipline and a sense of belonging
that lasts far beyond the final
performance. We celebrate the vision of
Dr. Robert Smotherman, whose belief in the
arts helped make all of this possible.”
Ryan Clark, Bardstown Independent Schools superintendent, on the naming
of the district high school’s new art wing for former Superintendent Robert
Smotherman. The wing, expected to be completed in Spring 2027, will be a hub
for music, visual arts and theater.
From the Kentucky Standard, Bardstown
Josh Hunt
“In a system this
big, there’s a lot
of moving parts,
and the financial
world is a big
piece of what we
do here, paying for and taking in
money. So, to have no findings was
very pleasing, and I was glad the
board and the public could hear
that tonight. As a public entity and
steward of taxpayer money, you
want them to hear that there are
no findings in your audit.”
Josh Hunt, McCracken County superintendent,
on the district’s annual audit report which
included no adverse findings.
From the Paducah Sun
Shane Pickerill
“It’s an awesome
opportunity
anytime
somebody wants
to recognize your
school, especially
on a national level. We know we are
a great school, we know we have
got great students, but to share
that and to show all the great things
going on at our school. … It’s a great
opportunity.”
Shane Pickerill, Georgetown Middle School
principal, on U.S. Secretary of Education Linda
McMahon visiting the school to celebrate the
United States’ Semiquincentennial, the 250th
anniversary of independence.
From the News-Graphic, Georgetown
Jina
Greathouse
“In addition to
her operational
achievements, Dr.
Satterly’s fiscal
leadership has
become firm and resolute. Under
her guidance, the district has
come into a position of long-term
financial stability and strength,
ensuring that our resources will
continue to benefit the academic
success of our students.”
Jina Greathouse, Frankfort Independent
Schools board chair, on the board renewing
Superintendent Sheri Satterly’s contract for
four more years.
From the Frankfort State Journal
Lori Jones
“We have the
responsibility to
ensure that this
school system
thrives for our
students, for
our staff members and for our
community. We do have a legacy
of excellence, and we are going to
ensure a future of opportunities
for our students. And so this is
a bump in the road, but it is our
current reality.”
Lori Jones, Woodford County
superintendent, on cuts the district will
have to make in its next budget to avoid its
contingency fund dipping below the state-
required 2% of operating expenses.
From the Woodford Sun
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 7
8 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
Two school board members could
face each other in a race for state Senate
depending on the outcome of May’s
primary election.
Marion County Schools board
member Carrie Truitt and Spencer
County Schools board member Lynn
Shelburne have both filed to represent
the state’s 14th Senate District in the
General Assembly – from opposing
parties. The deadline to file for seats
that could have a primary election was
Jan. 9.
Truitt, who will run in
the Democratic primary,
is senior director of
Communications for
Leadership Kentucky and
has been a board member
for nine years.
“I look forward to sharing a message
of collaboration, positivity, and focus on
the future of this great Commonwealth,”
she said in a social media post
announcing her candidacy. “Serving
as your District 1 Representative on
the Marion County Board of Education
has been one of the greatest honors of
my life, and I fully intend to continue
serving in that role until you, the voters,
choose a different path for me.”
Truitt will face Malcolm Jones in the
Democratic primary.
Shelburne, who will run in the
Republican primary, is a retired
dentist and small business owner and
has served on the Spencer County
Schools board for 11 years.
“It is a privilege to serve others
every day,” she said. “I want to
help build a future filled with
opportunity and lasting prosperity
for Kentucky families.”
Shelburne will face
six opponents in the
Republican primary.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon,
R-Lebanon, who
currently represents
the 14th Senate District, is not seeking
reelection.
Former Jefferson County Schools
board member Sarah Cole McIntosh
has filed to run for the 36th Senate
District, now held by Republican
Julie Raque Adams. McIntosh, who
filed as a Democrat, faces Luke
Whitehead in the primary. Adams,
who has filed for reelection, faces
David Farley in the primary.
McIntosh, a former
teacher who served
four years on the board,
said on her campaign
website that she is
running “because we
need a leader who
understands the challenges that
Louisvillians face every day, and
who will work with Gov. Beshear to
address them.”
McIntosh said that as a former
teacher and school board member she
understands how the General Assembly
should be supporting Kentucky public
schools – “not trying to break up the
school district or send public school
dollars to private schools.”
Board member running for
judge-executive
LaRue County Schools
board member Farrah
Pruitt is running to
become the county’s
judge-executive. Pruitt,
who has served on the
LaRue County board for
12 years, is the owner of Bluegrass
Floral Market in Munfordville.
Pruitt told the News Enterprise
that as a board member she made it a
priority to understand Kentucky Open
Meetings law, along with statutes,
policies and procedures that govern
elected officials.
“As an elected official, you should
be able to answer for your actions
Board members file for higher office,
educators seek seats
By Brenna R. Kelly | Staff writer
and the dollars you spend. I believe
in transparency, consistency and
communication,” she said. “I’m not
afraid of hard conversations. They’re
often where progress begins. As
county judge, I’ll ensure that our
decisions follow the law, respect local
ordinances and uphold the trust of the
people we serve.”
Pruitt faces three opponents in the
Republican primary.
A former superintendent is also
running for judge-executive of his
county. Anthony Strong, who served
as superintendent of Campbell
and Pendleton County Schools, is
running in the Republican primary
for Pendleton County judge-
executive. He faces three opponents.
General Assembly changes
Former Ohio and Hancock County
Schools superintendent Rep. Scott
Lewis, R-Hartford, is not seeking
another term in the state House. Lewis
is currently in the second year as chair
of the House Primary and Secondary
Education Committee.
Fayette County Schools administrator
Killian Timoney is trying to regain
the House District 45 seat he lost
to Thomas Jefferson in the 2024
Republican primary election. The
seat is now held by Rep. Adam Moore,
D-Lexington.
Timoney told the Lexington Herald-
Leader that he is excited about the
opportunity to represent the district
again because serving his community is
in his nature.
“This time away from the General
Assembly, it gave me that opportunity
to really slow down and listen, and I
heard a lot of things that are going to
shape a lot of my path moving forward,”
Timoney said.
McIntosh
Pruitt
Truitt
Shelburne
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 9
New directors up for ratification
314 WILKINSON STREET, FRANKFORT, KY 40601
gscottarch.com
PHONE
FAX
502-875-2290
502-875-1307
Providing Architectural Services for
school clients since 1984.
A KSBA nominating committee has
selected four school board members to
serve three-year terms as directors at-
large on KSBA’s Board of Directors.
The ratification will take place during
the annual business meeting on Feb. 21
during the Plenary Session at KSBA’s
Annual Conference.
The candidates are:
Deborah Hammers
has been a Butler County
school board member
for 16 years. She has
served as vice chair of the
board since 2023 and is
a member of the board’s
Calendar Committee, as well as the
Butler County ACT advisory committee.
Hammers currently serves as a KSBA
director-at-large and previously served
as a KSBA regional director. She is
retired from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
Ricky Pennington has
served for five years as
a Morgan County school
board member. He serves
on the district’s Local
Planning Committee
and is the lead board
member for the salary schedule update,
superintendent contract development
and mission, vision and Portrait of
a Learner development. Pennington
is director of strategy and business
development at Mountain Telephone.
Trey Pippin is in his
second year of service
as a Daviess County
school board member.
He previously worked
as a college and career
readiness counselor and led the Dual
Credit Program for Daviess County
Schools. Pippin also is a former member
of the National Alliance of Concurrent
Enrollment Partnerships Board of
Directors. He works in business
development.
Nancy Uhls has served
13 years as a Simpson
County school board
member. She served as
vice chair of the local
board from 2019 to 2024
and as KSBA regional
director for the Third Region from 2023
to 2025. Uhls is a nuclear medicine and
PET technologist.
10 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
KSBA’s biggest weekend of the year
returns to Louisville Feb. 20-22. More
than 1,000 school board members,
administrators and other education
leaders will be in attendance for the
association’s 2026 Annual Conference
– with 95% of Kentucky school
districts represented.
This year’s conference also serves
as the official kickoff of KSBA’s 90th
anniversary year, an important
milestone that inspired this year’s
theme, “Built to Last.”
#KSBA26 features nearly 50
workshop sessions, 82 exhibits and
plenty of networking opportunities over
the three days.
Saturday morning’s
plenary session will
feature an interactive
legislative session
“halftime report”
provided by KSBA
leadership. Saturday’s
luncheon will feature
former professional
athlete, entrepreneur
and speaker Rennie
Curran, while Sunday’s
brunch session caps
off the weekend with
Fortune 100 corporate
philanthropy leader and
brain tumor survivor Shanna Adamic.
Here are a few helpful tips to help
you make the most of your conference
experience.
Get what you want AND need
While you may be preregistered
for specific workshop sessions, board
members can attend any session on
Adamic
Curran
KSBA 2026 Annual Conference Primer:
Make sure you’re “built to last” for three days of training
STAFF REPORT
the agenda (space permitting). KSBA
encourages members to carefully
review all sessions in the conference
schedule to determine which sessions
are right for you.
Some state-mandated topical
requirements were changed in July
2024. For longer-serving school board
members, especially, some of the topical
requirements no longer mandate
the same number of hours each year,
possibly freeing up time to pursue more
elective topics.
In the conference packet (which
attendees receive at sign-in), there is a
personalized credit information sheet
that summarizes the hours and/or
topics required to meet annual state-
mandated training.
Get a head start and stay ahead
of schedule
KSBA recommends arriving early
and allowing plenty of time to pick up
your conference bag and program and
to review conference materials. The
registration desk will be open from 4-6
p.m. Feb. 19 for those arriving the night
before, and it will reopen at 7:30 a.m.
on Feb. 20.
KSBA uses preregistration numbers
to assign rooms based on the expected
attendance, however preregistration
does not guarantee a seat. Based on the
registration numbers, several workshop
sessions are expected to be at or near
seating capacity. Seating is on a first-
come, first-served basis, so plan to
arrive at workshop sessions at least
10 minutes before the scheduled start
time.
Keep the caffeine and
calories coming
Training and networking take
energy and focus. KSBA will once
again provide plenty of opportunities
to refuel throughout the weekend; a
beverage station Friday morning, a
networking reception Friday afternoon,
and a continental breakfast on Saturday
morning in addition to a late morning
beverage break. The Galt House Hotel
offers multiple restaurants on site as
well as grab-and-go food options, while
plenty of eateries and shops are located
within a few walkable blocks.
Meals served during Saturday’s
luncheon session and Sunday’s brunch
session require the pre-purchase of
tickets. If a ticket was not purchased,
a limited number will be available for
purchase on site.
Some attendees often “brown bag”
their Friday lunches in the conference
ballroom. This convenient and cost-
effective conference hack allows
attendees to enjoy a meal while
securing a good seat for KSBA’s 1 p.m.
Opening Session.
Don’t pass on the trade
show passport
Conference participants will once
again receive a trade show “passport,”
good for accumulating signatures
from exhibitors to earn chances to win
door prizes. The real prize, however,
is the opportunity to engage with
professionals representing more
than 80 education industry leading
organizations, from architecture
and energy management to financial
advisers and classroom resources.
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 11
KSBA’s 90th Anniversary: Built to Last
April 17, 1936
Twenty-five school
board members met in
Louisville during the
Kentucky Education
Association’s
conference and
adopted a resolution
to form a statewide
organization of school
board members.
This is considered
KSBA’s first annual
conference and serves
as the association’s
Founders Day.
August 13, 1936
The first “regional”
meeting of 38
board members and
superintendents from
a 10‐county region
was held at Daviess
County High School in
Owensboro. In 1936,
Kentucky had 275
public school boards
with 1,375 board
members.
From 25 local school board members
holding a small, informal meeting
in 1936, to the leading advocate for
Kentucky’s public school boards KSBA
members know and love today, one
thing is clear: the association and its
mission are Built to Last. Over the past
90 years, KSBA has been dedicated to
empowering local districts by offering
superior support, service and training
to boards across the state. As KSBA
celebrates its 90th anniversary this
year, beginning at this year’s Annual
Conference, take a look some of the
memorable milestones that have
strengthened our foundation.
1937
The name “Kentucky
School Boards
Association” was first
adopted in 1937 as
part of a provisional
constitution which
established 11 regional
districts. Later that year,
Leonard E. Meece, of the
University of Kentucky
College of Education,
was chosen as the
association’s first staff
member and executive
secretary.
April 16, 1937
At the second annual
meeting of the
association, Meece
reported that in the
association’s first year
it won a lawsuit to
prohibit tax collectors
from retaining 4% of the
school taxes collected,
saving schools more
than $1 million
annually.
1938
KSBA’s offices were
established in Lexington.
W. D. Nichols, a Lexington
board member and UK
faculty member who
became the secretary,
is credited as one of the
driving forces behind the
association’s founding.
1940
The 1940 annual report
noted that the association
was “short of funds”
because it was awaiting a
court ruling to determine
whether school boards
had the legal right to
pay association dues.
The Kentucky Court of
Appeals ruled later that
year that dues payments
were legal.
January 1941
KSBA published its first
bulletin, “A Manual for
School Board Members,”
with copies mailed to
every board member
in the state. In all, more
than 10,000 pieces
of mail were sent to
board members and
superintendents that year.
1941
According to the minutes
of the Sixth Annual
Meeting, “the association
has become established in
the thinking and planning
of educational programs.
Those who are striving
to improve education in
Kentucky recognize in the
Kentucky School Boards
Association an important
and powerful ally.”
12 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
April 1943
KSBA convention passed
resolution seeking
a special legislative
session to increase per
pupil funding by $15
million after the regular
session failed to do so
and another resolution
asking Congress to pass
a bill that would provide
federal aid for public
schools, focusing on
raising teacher salaries.
March 1944
First time an annual
conference was held
outside Louisville; it was
held in the Law Building
on the UK campus. That
year, the association’s
largest expense was $155
for stamps and $136 for
printing.
1948
KSBA conducted its first
survey to determine the
longest serving school
board member in the
state and found that it was
W.L. Baker (Monticello
Independent) who had
been serving since 1903.
January 1949
Earliest remaining regular
member publication, The
Kentucky School Board
Journal. As it is listed as
Volume 2, #1, it can be
assumed that the first
edition came in 1948, but
no copies remain to be
found.
1949
The minutes of the 1949
annual meeting state: “A
few superintendents in
Kentucky still take the
position that an informed
board of education is
dangerous to the public
welfare.”
April 1952
Annual Conference report
include concerns that:
• Class sizes are too
large, resulting in
many children not
receiving adequate
time and instruction
from their teachers, and
many schools remain
overcrowded, despite
the addition of more
than 7,500 classrooms
across the state the
previous year.
• Nearly half of the state’s
schools have identified
fire hazards and a state
health department
survey of more than
250 schools found
water unsafe in 68%
of the buildings and
wastewater disposal
unsafe in 74% of the
schools.
• Census Bureau report
showed that 43.7
percent of the state’s
16‐and‐17‐year‐olds
had dropped out of
school.
1954
The association’s budget
of $4,600 included a
$2,000 salary and travel
reimbursement for Meece,
the only staff member.
1955
KSBA’s first branded swag
was created – an ink pen.
1955
In cooperation with
the National Citizens
Commission for the Public
Schools, KSBA hosted a
statewide meeting on
school desegregation.
KSBA’s membership
included 216 of the state’s
then‐224 school boards.
March 1956
Two major items in the
association’s annual
business meeting report
were lobbying for full
financing for the School
Foundation Program
in the 1956 legislature
and preparing Kentucky
districts to comply
with the U.S. Supreme
Court’s ruling on school
desegregation.
August 1956
The board
of directors
approved
the first
dues
increase to
help provide
a salary for the first full-
time staff member, Meece,
who became executive
secretary.
The
association
also decided
to hold
its annual
meeting
in the city
designated
for the
high school
basketball
tournament.
March 1957
The first mention of a
door prize – a “handsome
portable radio” – being
given away at KSBA’s
Annual Conference.
This was also the first
conference to have a
theme “Better Boards for
Better Schools.”
March 1958
Dunbar High School
(Fayette County) was the
first student group to
perform at KSBA’s Annual
Conference.
1961
The School Board Journal
became a monthly
publication.
J.V. Vittitow, second from right. With him were
Dr. L.E. Meece, Dr. N.C. Turpen, Mrs. William Clark
Jr. and J.C. Wallace. Published in the Lexington
Herald-Leader, March 16, 1955. University of
Kentucky Libraries Special Collections.
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 13
1962
First time that vendors
were included in the
annual meeting.
1968
Kentucky Educational
Television goes on the
air and praises KSBA for
its unwavering support,
pledging “to make it live
up to the promise that
Maurice Bement (KSBA
executive director) and
the Kentucky School
Boards Association saw
in it.”
September 1979
KSBA hires MerryAnn
Marshall, thought to be
KSBA’s longest-serving
employee (46 years and
counting).
1980
KSBA breaks ground on
Frankfort headquarters.
1988
KSBA became part of the
Education Coalition, when
for the first time all of the
state's major education
interest groups joined
with business, religious
and advocacy groups
in a common education
reform effort.
1985
Mary Cohron,
of Bowling
Green
Independent,
becomes
KSBA’s
first female president.
After her term, Cohron
commented; “It was a
tremendous honor to be
the first woman president
of KSBA; however, with
all of the honors, there
comes responsibility. I
knew if other women
were going to follow me
in that position I had to
do an exceptional job. I
am proud that there have
been many outstanding
women to head KSBA over
the past 20-plus years
since I was president
and I am thankful for all
the wonderful men and
women who supported
us.”
May 1992
Articles of Incorporation
were filed establishing
the KSBA Educational
Foundation.
1994
KSBA’s
publication
the KSBA
Journal
become the
Kentucky School
Advocate.
1997
John Smith,
of Henry
County
Schools,
becomes
the first
Black president of KSBA.
Smith was also the first
recipient of the Kentucky
PTA’s Warren Proudfoot
Outstanding School Board
Member Award. Smith
served 34 years on the
Henry County board.
When he died in 2013
at the age of 83, then
superintendent Tim
Abrams said he had a
passion for Henry County
students: “Because of
segregation, he wasn’t
allowed to attend Henry
County Public Schools,
but he’s been putting
students through those
same schools all his life.”
1997
Lincoln County Schools
wins KSBA’s first PEAK
Award, (Public Education
Achieves in Kentucky) for
its mobile learning center.
1998
KSBA was one of the
founding partners of
the Kentucky Center for
School Safety, created
by House Bill 330 in
1998, and still provides
training and technical
assistance to schools and
communities on its behalf.
1999
KSBA articles of
incorporation amended
to state that should an
officer or director cease
to hold membership on
a local board, for any
reason, then his or her
position on the KSBA
board shall be deemed
vacant.
2006
KSBA establishes four
standing committees of
the board of directors:
governance, performance
oversight/monitoring,
planning and program
development and
external/member
relations.
December 2011
KSBA launches its
First Degree College
Scholarship program,
awarding aid to first-
generation college-bound
seniors from Kentucky
public schools.
2017
Kerri
Schelling
becomes
KSBA’s first
female executive director.
May 2021
During the Covid-19
pandemic, KSBA
temporarily relocates its
Annual Conference from
the Galt House to the
Kentucky International
Convention Center.
2026
KSBA Celebrates its 90th
Anniversary!
KSBA breaks ground on Frankfort headquarters 1980
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February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 15
The House Republican leadership
in late January filed its budget bill as
House Bill 500, calling it a first draft
of the state’s two-year spending plan
that will evolve during the long 60-day
session.
While introducing the bill, House
Appropriations and Revenue Chair
Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, warned
that the initial spending plan is a “bare
bones” budget with no additional
budget requests from executive branch
agencies, including the Department of
Education.
“We are trying to restrain the growth
in spending in the Commonwealth,” he
said. “There’s no amount of revenue
that can feed the executive branch and
its wants and its desires, but we will
find what they need, and that’s how
we’ll come up with a good budget.”
The major theme of the new state
budget is to rein in spending that Petrie
said is “out of control.”
Meetings of the House’s numerous
budget review subcommittees will
consider additions to the budget, then a
committee sub will be filed, he said.
While the total dollar amount for the
overall SEEK education funding formula
increases slightly, from $3.26 billion
and $3.37 billion in the current budget
to $3.46 billion and $3.37 billion in the
next two fiscal years, the budget also
includes a $40 million reduction in
student transportation funding and a
Empowering Schools.
Inspiring Futures.
Designing K-12 facilities that strengthen
schools, support students, and serve
communities across Kentucky.
www.brownkubican.com
Seneca High School | Louisville, KY
Oxford Elementary | Georgetown, KY
Structural
Revit Models
Lexington • Louisville • Chattanooga
Elkhorn Elementary | Frankfort, KY
House files bare bones budget
By Brenna R. Kelly | Staff writer
$22 million cut to the School Facilities
Construction Commission.
The budget holds SEEK per-pupil
funding at the current $4,586 level for
both years of the state budget and does
not include any increase for preschool,
career and technical education or
Family Resource and Youth Services
Centers.
Education Commissioner Robbie
Fletcher said the transportation cuts
would reduce that funding to 2024
levels, leaving transportation between
65 and 70% funded.
The budget also does not include
equalization funding for 17 school
districts that have passed a recallable
nickel tax, he said.
16 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
859.273.3700
CLOTFELTER-SAMOKAR.COM
LOCALLY OWNED & COMMUNITY FOCUSED SINCE 1953
Setting the Standard for
Architectural Excellence.
Superintendents retirements & resignations
Pulaski County
Schools
Patrick Richardson,
who has been
superintendent of Pulaski
County Schools for eight
years, announced he will retire in July.
“My time has come. I have devoted the
majority of my life to the Pulaski County
School System,” he said according to the
Commonwealth Journal. “I am proud
of the accomplishments we have made.
I will always be proud of my 32-year
career serving the students and the
Pulaski County community.”
Richardson said his tenure as
superintendent included some of the
most rewarding times and most difficult
times in his life.
“A superintendent is in a position to
make decisions and I can say I always
tried to make the best decisions for our
students and our district as a whole,”
he said. “I’m proud of the facility
improvements we made, I’m proud
of the police force that we’ve got in
place now. I’m proud of where we are
academically as a district.”
Richardson was named
Superintendent of the Year by the
Kentucky Educational Development
Cooperative this past fall.
Richardson said he made his
announcement at the January meeting
to give the district time to find a new
leader.
Monroe County
Schools
Monroe County
Schools Superintendent
Amy Thompson has
announced she will
retire at the end of this school year.
Thompson has worked at Monroe
County Schools for 29 years and served
as superintendent for 12 years.
“During my time here, I have had the
opportunity to work with a talented
team and contribute to projects that
I am deeply proud of,” she said. “I
am truly grateful for the support,
encouragement, and professional
growth I have experienced throughout
my career.”
Thompson said she would help the
district ensure a smooth transition and
help the district find its new leader.
Richardson
Thompson
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 17
want the kids digging through stuff
looking for them. But it was a lot of fun.
Then we did ducks for around Easter.
Q. Even though you were deeply
involved in the district before
becoming a board member, was there
something about board service that
surprised you?
A. Absolutely. I don’t think many
people understand the role of a school
board member, and I was the same
way. You think you control a lot more
stuff than you actually do. I always love
it when somebody makes a comment
on Facebook, ‘Well, the school board
should do something about that.’ I try to
comment that we don’t have any control
over that. I can’t help it that you can’t
bring cupcakes to the schools – that’s
a federal regulation. I
think in people’s minds,
the school board
controls a lot
more things
than we
actually
do.
BEYOND THE BOARD
Q. You have served on the board for
six years. Why did you want to become
a board member?
A. For me, I’m an Oldham County
Schools graduate. I went through
Oldham County Schools K–12 and
moved back here to raise my four girls,
and I wanted to be part of the decision-
making in our district.
Q. How does it feel to serve in the
district where you grew up?
A. It’s very special to me. I think
Oldham County is very special place to
be. I’m just super proud of all of our staff
and all of our students. The people that
work in our school district are amazing,
our parents are amazing and it’s just a
great place to be.
Q. Before joining the board you were
a PTO and PTA president for your
children’s schools. Why did you get
involved in that?
A. Anytime my brother and I were in
school, my mom was the PTA president.
My dad was the president of South
Oldham Little League and dad also was
treasurer of the booster club at South
Oldham High School when the athletic
boosters started. My family has always
been very heavily involved in service to
the community, so it just seemed like a
natural fit.
Q. You collect donations and put
together Blessings in a Backpack for
some of the schools. Can you tell us
about that program?
A. I turned that over to somebody else
this year because I’ve transitioned out
of the middle school, but I did that for
many, many years. People tend to think
of Oldham County as “Well, everyone
there has money.” And that’s simply not
the case. We also have Title 1 schools
and families that are struggling. It’s just
always been very important to me. The
thought of a kid on a weekend being
hungry because school’s not in session
just broke my heart.
Q. This past year South Oldham
Middle School awarded you the Ignite
Passion Award for your service over
the years – including hiding hundreds
of tiny plastic frogs all over the school
for Leap Day. Can you tell us about
what the award meant to you, and
about the frogs?
A. I don’t do any of this stuff to be
recognized for it. It’s great and I really
appreciate the principal at South
Oldham Middle School putting me up
for that award. It was a huge honor to
get it and I had no idea I was getting it,
so that was great.
Hiding the frogs was just a neat idea to
go in the night before Leap Day and hide
the frogs –
I think there were 800 of them that
we hid. We tried not to put them in any
teachers’ classrooms because I didn’t
Suzanne Hundley
OLDHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS
Hometown: Crestwood
Family: Husband, Van Hundley, and four
daughters, ages 15, 17, 20 and 25.
Favorite subject: English
Hobbies: I work out every morning and I love
going to estate sales and peddler’s malls.
Book recommendation: “Stay Positive” by John
Gordon and Daniel Decker. It’s encouraging
quotes and messages to fuel your life with
positive energy, and every day is a
different positive quote.
Interesting fact: I was in the last
class to have one year of only
one high school in the county.
My freshman year at Oldham
County High School, they built
South Oldham High School.
Getting to know
18 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
Tier 1 Affiliates
Alliance Corporation
American Fidelity Educational Services
ClotfelterSamokar Architects
Comfort & Process Solutions
Houchens Insurance Group – Education
Performance Services
RossTarrant Architects
Schmidt Associates
Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects
Summit Architects + Engineers
Trace Creek Construction
Trane Kentucky & Southern Indiana
Tier 2 Affiliates
Ascendant Facility Partners
BFW/Marcum Engineering
BHP/Thermal Equipment Sales
CMTA, Inc.
Compass Municipal Advisors
Deco Architects, Inc.
Elevate Academy KY Rank Change
RBS Design Group Architecture
RSA Advisors
R.W. Baird
Tier 3 Affiliates
Brown + Kubican, PSC
G. Scott & Associates, Architects
MBI Education
Visit ksba.org/Affiliates.aspx if you would like to
learn more about our affiliates.
Affiliate Members
February 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 19
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Taylor County teacher named
Milken winner
Sydney Newton, an English language
arts teacher at Taylor County High
School, was honored Dec. 16 as the
latest Kentucky educator to receive the
Milken Family Foundation National
Educator Award.
Newton was presented with the
award, which includes a $25,000
unrestricted cash prize, in a surprise
ceremony at her school that included
students, faculty and district and
community leaders.
The prestigious award, hailed as the
“Oscars of Teaching,” was presented
by Education Commissioner Robbie
Fletcher, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman
and Milken Educator Awards Senior
Vice President Jane Foley.
“Educators such as Mrs. Newton
exemplify the positive impact that
arises when teachers are committed to
delivering the highest quality education
to their students,” Fletcher said. “Her
presence in the classroom and in the
community elevates those around her.
She is a shining example of what it
means to be ‘All in.’”
Newton said she was surprised to
hear her name announced.
“Right before I heard my name, I
thought we have a million outstanding
educators here in our district,” Newton
said. “And then I was just in shock at
this when I heard my name.”
Newton has been an English language
arts teacher for Taylor County High
School since her teaching career
began in 2016 were she led the effort
to revamp the scope and sequence of
English II to increase rigor and provide
additional student safety nets.
Newton has taken several leadership
positions at the school, including roles
as a new teacher mentor, the school’s
non-traditional instruction lead and as
a school-based decision making council
member, among other roles.
KBE seeking teacher, student
applications for non-voting
members
Applications are being accepted for
the non-voting teacher and student
members of the Kentucky Board of
Education (KBE).
Each member would serve a
one-year term, from July 1, 2026, to
June 30, 2027.
As mandated by Kentucky law,
the KBE develops and adopts the
regulations that govern Kentucky’s 171
public school districts and the actions of
the Kentucky Department of Education.
The KBE has 11 voting members
appointed by the governor and four,
non-voting members – the president
of the Council on Postsecondary
Education, the secretary of the
Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet,
a high school student and an active
elementary or secondary school
teacher.
To be considered for the non-voting
teacher position, the applicant must
be a full-time Kentucky public school
teacher and must reside in Kentucky’s
4th Congressional District, which
includes, Boone, Bracken, Campbell,
Carroll, Carter (partial), Gallatin, Grant,
Greenup, Harrison, Henry, Kenton,
Lewis, Mason, Nelson (partial), Oldham,
Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Shelby,
Spencer and Trimble counties.
Find more information at
https://bit.ly/KBEteacher.
For the non-voting student position,
the applicant must be enrolled in a
Kentucky public high school, be a
junior at the time of appointment
(a sophomore at the time of the
application submission) and must
reside in Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional
District, which includes; Barren,
Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Daviess,
Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hancock,
Hardin, Hart, Jefferson (partial), LaRue,
Logan (partial), McLean, Meade,
Muhlenberg, Nelson (partial), Ohio and
Warren counties.
Find more information about the
student application at
https://bit.ly/KBEstudent.
Applications must be submitted
online by Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. ET.
Newly appointed board
members
Four local boards of education have
appointed new members. They are:
• Mason County: Mackenzie Lucas
• Pulaski County: Amber Vickery
• Berea Independent: Jennifer
Hobson
• Wolfe County: Dillon Donathan
Newton reacts to the announcement that she
received the Milken Award. Provided by Milken
20 Kentucky School Advocate | February 2026
Q. You have been chief financial officer
for Shelby County Schools since
December 2014. Can you tell us about
your career and what led you to work in
school finance?
A. I started out in public accounting and I was
an auditor with a regional firm in West Virginia,
which is where I’m from, and part of the work
that I did was audits of public school districts
in West Virginia. Our firm partnered with Ernst
and Young to do a compliance piece of the state
single audit, and that got me connected with
the West Virginia Department of Education,
which is where I found a job opportunity. I
loved working at the Department of Ed because
you weren’t just impacting one district, you
were impacting the whole state. I ended up
from there coming to Kentucky and working at
the Kentucky Department of Ed for a few years.
When the Shelby County district opportunity
came open, it was something I always wanted
to do.
Q. You’re serving as president of
the Kentucky Association of School
Business Officials (KASBO). Tell us about
the organization and its mission.
A. KASBO strives to be the authority for school
business operations in Kentucky. It’s made up
of school business professionals in our state.
That includes CFOs, human resources folks,
payroll, accounts payable – anyone who works
in school business in a public school district.
And those are the folks who make up our board,
our members. We offer two major conferences
and then additional professional development
opportunities throughout the year.
Q. What kind of training and
best practices information does
KASBO offer?
A. We’ve offered general new finance officer
training where we try to hit the high points
of the major tasks throughout the year, like a
survival guide: the things they’ve got to know
to be able to get through that first year and that
second year. And then coming up in February,
we’re offering an academy on everything
budgeting, which is great for new finance
officers as well, but will also be good for
finance officers who are just looking to improve
what they’re doing for their budget and using
some additional tools available in MUNIS, such
as salary projection.
We have made a conscious effort in the last
couple of years to offer more training and in
more areas specifically targeted to new finance
officers because we’ve seen so much turnover
in the finance officer role. And those first
three years are so critical. Someone coming
from banking or health care finance, public
accounting, they have great backgrounds for
the work, even (coming) from a nonprofit. But
there’s so many different things in the school
world – legal requirements, reporting, special
rules and regulations you would never run into
in any other industry.
Q. You received the Distinguished Eagle
Award from the Association of School
Business Officials International. What
does the award mean to you?
A. It was very positive for my district, and
lends credibility to my district and to me, so
our stakeholders know we have high-quality
staff. You usually only hear from people when
they’re not happy with finance, so it is so
rewarding to get some level of recognition
or appreciation for your work. And a lot of
what I’ve done has been for professional
development. I not only work for KASBO,
but I also work with Kentucky Association
of School Administrators, with their new
superintendent program.
Q. Public school finance is complicated;
why is it so different from typical
government accounting?
A. Typical government accounting would be
more accounting than what this role is. Things
like school report card, tax rates, staffing
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Susan Barkley
In Conversation With
features an interview
between a leader
or figure involved in
public education and
a representative of
the Kentucky School
Advocate.
Susan Barkley,
Kentucky Association
of School Business
Officials president and
Shelby County Schools
chief financial officer,
discusses the challenges
of school finance and
how boards can make
sure they have the
information they need.