Mountjoy tapped by Beshear for Education Cabinet Secretary

Helen Mountjoy, 61, of Utica, will head the Education Cabinet under Beshear. She has served since 2006 as executive vice president of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. Mountjoy, a Democrat, has also been a member of the Kentucky Chamber's Postsecondary Education Task Force and the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. Mountjoy was chair of the state board of education from 1998 to 2004. Previously she was a program specialist at the Hager Educational Foundation in Owensboro and director of alumni and public relations at Brescia University in Owensboro.

"Helen has a wealth of knowledge and experience in our state education system," Beshear said. Mountjoy said she looks forward to working with new state Education Commissioner Rep. John Draud, R-Edgewood. His long experience as a legislator will help the board of education when it comes to presenting a legislative agenda, she said.

This, and photo, from the State-Journal.