KDE names three new associate commissioners

DRAUT NAMED TO ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER POST

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Ken Draut, current director of the Planning Unit for Jefferson County Public Schools, has been named associate commissioner of the Office of Assessment and Accountability, the Kentucky Department of Education announced today.

Draut fills the post vacated by Pam Rogers, who has served in the position since 2005 and is retiring.

Draut will oversee the Divisions of Assessment Implementation and Assessment Support. The office and its divisions provide services to Kentucky public school districts, including management of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS), data reporting, federal compliance and communications.

Draut has 23 years of educational experience and has served as Planning Unit director since 2004, managing planning and evaluation programs for the school district and providing analysis of assessment and accountability policies. He previously served as district assessment coordinator for Jefferson and Henry Counties. Draut was employed by the Kentucky Department of Education from 1984 to 1991 as an education consultant and education manager. He spent 30 years in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a lieutenant commander.

Draut earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Rank I from the University of Louisville. He currently is completing coursework at Cumberland College for the instructional supervisor position.

Draut is expected to begin his duties before the beginning of the 2007-08 school year.
~

SPUGNARDI NAMED TO ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER POST

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Jamie Spugnardi, current director of instructional support services for the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative (GRREC), has been named associate commissioner of the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Kentucky Department of Education announced today.

Spugnardi fills the post vacated by Starr Lewis, who has served in the position since 2000 and is retiring.

As associate commissioner, Spugnardi will oversee the Divisions of Curriculum Development, Early Childhood Development and Secondary and Virtual Learning. The office and its divisions provide services to Kentucky public school districts, including curriculum resources, preschool, the Kentucky Virtual High School and dropout prevention.

Spugnardi has 26 years of educational experience and has served as executive director of GRREC since 2004, providing professional development resources, coordinating grant budgets and facilitating development of standards-based units of study for local school districts. Her prior experience includes site coordinator for the Model Teacher Preparation Program at Western Kentucky University; director of Region Two Service Center in Bowling Green (a resource center for local school districts operated by the Kentucky Department of Education); and elementary school teacher for the Warren County school district. Spugnardi also served as a Kentucky Distinguished Educator (later known as Highly Skilled Educator) from 1994 to 1997.

Spugnardi earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Rank I from Western Kentucky University. She also holds a Kentucky teaching certificate with an early childhood endorsement and an instructional supervision certificate.

Spugnardi is expected to begin her duties before the beginning of the 2007-08 school year.
~

STINSON NAMED TO ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER POST

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Larry Stinson, retired superintendent of the Ft. Thomas Independent school district, has been named associate commissioner of the Office of District Support Services, the Kentucky Department of Education announced today.

Stinson fills the post vacated by Kyna Koch, who retired earlier this year.

As associate commissioner, Stinson will oversee the Divisions of Data Management, District Operations, Facilities Management and Nutrition and Health Services. The office and its divisions provide services to Kentucky public school districts, including financial calculations, school nutrition, facilities planning and pupil transportation.

Stinson has 34 years of educational experience and was superintendent of the Ft. Thomas Independent school district from 1994 until June 2007. Along with the traditional duties of a school superintendent, he also handled many financial duties, including tax rate calculations, state funding estimates and budget development. Stinson’s prior experience includes serving as superintendent for the Whitley County Consolidated School District in Indiana and for the Bremen Public School District in Indiana. He also has served as an assistant professorial lecturer at Thomas More College, high school principal, teacher and band director.

Stinson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Rank I from Murray State University. He also earned a doctorate from Indiana University and holds certifications for school superintendent, secondary school principal, supervisor of instruction and high school teaching.

Stinson is expected to begin his duties before the beginning of the 2007-08 school year.

This from KDE press releases.