LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The superintendent of Lawrence County Schools has been named Kentucky's next commissioner of education.
On Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education said Dr. Robbie Fletcher would be appointed the chief state school officer and chief executive officer for the Kentucky Department of Education.
“On behalf of the Kentucky Board of Education, I congratulate our newly selected commissioner of education,” KBE Chair Sharon Porter Robinson said in a news release. “After thoughtful consideration of the feedback collected from numerous Kentucky stakeholders and the priorities of the KBE, we sought a leader who embodies the qualities of an ambassador and statesperson, an expert instructional leader, a strong organizational leader and a visionary innovator. We are confident that Dr. Fletcher meets these requirements and are excited about the future of education in the Commonwealth under his leadership.”
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.
“I appreciate the Kentucky Board of Education selecting me for your next commissioner of education. It was evident in the interview process that each person on the board has a profound love for every child in the Commonwealth,” Fletcher said in a news release. “If confirmed, I will be honored to serve all of Kentucky’s kids and all those involved in our kids’ educational experiences alongside each Board member."
Fletcher will begin his position on July 1, pending confirmation by the Kentucky Senate. If confirmed, Fletcher's 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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