LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Department of Education will start its search for a new commissioner this weekend.
KDE's current commissioner, Jason Glass, is leaving the job to become associate vice president of teaching and learning at Western Michigan University.
In July, Glass announced his decision to leave the position, and said his last day as commissioner would be Sept. 29.
Glass was appointed commissioner in 2020 by the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). His four-year contract was set to expire in September 2024.
Tuesday, he said his decision to step down had to do with Senate Bills 150 and 107.
SB 150 does not require staff to use students' preferred pronouns and limits the teaching of certain sex-related topics in schools.
SB 107 required the commissioner of education to be subject for Senate confirmation.
"To draw attention to it and say, this is wrong," Glass said. "It's embarrassing, and we need to really reevaluate the decisions our legislators have made on this. I felt like this is the most significant, disruptive thing I could do."
KDE recently appointed Robin Fields Kinney, who is currently associate commissioner of the Office of Finance and Operations for KDE, as interim.
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.
KDE will hire a firm to help in the search for a permanent commissioner.
Related Stories:
- Kentucky Board of Education names interim education commissioner
- Kentucky Board of Education to use search firm to find next commissioner
- Kentucky education commissioner stepping down Sept. 29 to take job in Michigan
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