Fletcher confirmed as next commissioner of education in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Robbie Fletcher was approved by the Kentucky Senate to become the state's next commissioner of education.

Fletcher met with the Senate Education Committee on April 12. He was then approved on Monday. He will start the role on July 1.

"I am grateful for the Senate’s faith in my ability and my desire to accomplish great things for our students, our educators, our families and everyone in the Commonwealth," Fletcher said in a news release. "I plan on taking the same ‘All In’ approach I have taken during my time as superintendent of Lawrence County Schools as we continue to strengthen public schools in Kentucky."

Last year, the legislature changed state law mandating the Senate confirm the commissioner of education. This is the first time that measure has been put into place.

Fletcher started out as a teacher in 1996 before getting into administration in 2004. He's been the superintendent of Lawrence County since 2014, and was the principal of Sheldon Clark High School from 2009 to 2014.

His starting salary will be $265,000.

The position had been vacant since Dr. Jason Glass' resignation last fall. Glass said he left, in part, because of controversial laws passed during the last legislative session. He's now an associate vice president at Western Michigan University.

The commissioner oversees the state's K-12 school system and its 635,000 students, as well as acts as superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Blind, the Kentucky School for the Deaf and 53 area technology centers.

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