Thursday March 28th, 2024 8:54AM

Jackson Co. native, UNG grad named Kentucky Commissioner of Education

By AccessWDUN staff

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Jackson County native and graduate of the University of North Georgia (UNG) is the new Kentucky Commissioner of Education.

Stephen L. Pruitt was named to the post recently by the Kentucky Board of Education.

Pruitt, formerly of Talmo, is currently senior vice president at Achieve, Inc., an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit education reform organization, where he has served since 2010.

Following a five-month search process, the board extended an offer of employment to Pruitt last month and directed Board Chair Roger Marcum to negotiate a contract and the board recently ratified the contract. It calls for Pruitt to be paid $240,000 annually over the course of the 4-year contract.

“The Commonwealth has a rich history of and commitment to improving the lives of its children through public education. I am honored to serve as Kentucky’s next commissioner of education and be able to continue that tradition,” Pruitt said after signing the contract. “I am excited to work alongside Kentucky’s educators and education shareholders to support our students, so they can graduate college/career-ready, realize success in their postsecondary endeavors, get good jobs and help Kentucky prosper.”

In addition to working at Achieve, Dr. Pruitt’s prior experience includes chief of staff, associate state superintendent, director of academic standards, and science and mathematics program manager with the Georgia Department of Education; and high school chemistry teacher in Fayetteville and Tyrone, Georgia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and State University (now UNG); a master’s from the University of West Georgia and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Auburn University. 

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  • Associated Tags: University of North Georgia, Jackson County , Talmo
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