Stephen Pruitt
Stephen Pruitt is the former commissioner of education in Kentucky. He was named as Kentucky's sixth commissioner of education on October 16, 2015.[1] Pruitt resigned, effective immediately, on April 17, 2018. His resignation came during a reorganization of the state Board of Education.[2]
Biography
Pruitt was senior vice president at Achieve Inc., a nonpartisan, nonprofit education reform organization, from 2010 to 2015. While at Achieve, Pruitt was in charge of developing the Next Generation Science Standards, a set of academic guidelines that Kentucky teachers implemented in 2014. Previously, he worked at the Georgia Department of Education.[1]
Political career
Kentucky commissioner of education (2015-2018)
Pruitt took office as the Kentucky education commissioner on October 16, 2015.[1] He resigned effective immediately on April 17, 2018, among a reorganization of the state Board of Education. Gov. Matt Bevin (R) appointed seven new members to the 12-member board on April 16.[2]
Democrats and Republicans were unhappy with Pruitt's resignation.
- Kentucky Democratic Party spokesman Brad Bowman said, "If Gov. Bevin and the Republican majority were sincere about strengthening education for all of Kentucky students, they wouldn’t starve our local school districts and stack the Board of Education with pro-charter school appointees. Today, they have continued their war on public education."[2]
- House Education Committee Chair John Carney (R) said he wished Pruitt had not resigned and, responding to board statements that Pruitt was not pushed out, said, "If he wasn’t pushed out he was certainly encouraged to step down."[2]
- Kentucky Education Association (KEA) President Stephanie Winkler said of Pruitt's resignation,[2]
| “ | Despite the outcry of tens of thousands of Kentuckians, today Governor Matt Bevin continued his offensive against public education, this time through proxies and behind closed doors. Dr. Stephen Pruitt has been a strong and effective champion for our students and public schools. Forcing an honorable and highly qualified man to resign from his position without any cause is contrary to the best interests of students across the Commonwealth.[3] | ” |
- Gov. Bevin and the KEA have been in conflict recently over teacher protests and Bevin's signature of a bill changing the state pension system.
About the office
The Kentucky Commissioner of Education is an appointed state executive position in the Kentucky state government.
The commissioner of education serves as chief executive of the Department of Education and is responsible for administering, structuring, and organizing the Department and its services.[4]
Georgia Department of Education
Pruitt worked as a chief of staff, associate state superintendent, director of academic standards, and science and mathematics program manager at the Georgia Department of Education.[1]
Appointments
2015
Pruitt was appointed as Kentucky commissioner of education by the Kentucky Board of Education in 2015.[1]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Pruitt is married and has a daughter.[1]
Recent news
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See also
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Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Antoinette Konz, WDRB News, "Kentucky education commissioner Stephen Pruitt to make $240K, start Oct. 16," October 6, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Courier-Journal, "Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt resigns under pressure," April 17, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kentucky Revised Statutes, "156.010 Commissioners authority to organize Department of Education," accessed January 18, 2021
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Terry Holliday |
Kentucky Commissioner of Education 2015–2018 |
Succeeded by Wayne Lewis (interim) |
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