In news that was disappointing but not necessarily surprising, the Kentucky Commissioner of Education, Dr. Jason Glass, announced today that he is resigning his position, effective September 29 of this year.
Glass is leaving to take a position as associate vice president of teaching and learning at Western Michigan University.
“These past three years have been a remarkable journey and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to return to my home state and serve as commissioner,” Glass said. “I wish to thank the members of the Kentucky Board of Education for their wisdom and leadership, the staff at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for their exemplary service and those working in education roles across the state for their continuing efforts to serve and support all of Kentucky’s children. I have a heart full of gratitude.”
Some of Glass’s accomplishments, as listed in the press release from the Department of Education:
- Led the way in creating the “Portrait of a Learner” framework, an agreed-upon set of school- or district-level aspirations for what every learner will know and be able to do when they leave school.
- Helped create the “United We Learn” program, a vision for the future of public education in Kentucky that includes three big ideas: creating a more vibrant experience for every student, encouraging innovation in our schools, and creating a bold new future for Kentucky’s schools through collaboration with our communities.
- Dealt effectively and decisively with the COVID pandemic, which was already under way when he arrived.
- Increased the impact of the voice of students, including the Commissioner's Student Advisory Council.
The chair and vice-chair of the Kentucky Board of Education both had positive statements on Glass’s work while commissioner, and are sad to see him leave.
Meanwhile, Repubs do their happy dance
One group that is not sad to see Glass leave is the Kentucky GOP. They have wanted Glass removed ever since he encouraged teachers to use proper pronouns when addressing trans students.
House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade of Stanford had this to say:
“After telling teachers they can leave the classroom if they don’t want to follow the administration’s radical rules, it appears the commissioner of education finally recognizes how out of step he is with Kentuckians and is following his own advice.”
And Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cameron said this:
“One down, one to go. Andy Beshear’s Education Commissioner told teachers that if they expressed concern about radical gender ideology, they needed to find another job. That wasn’t the right answer. The right answer is for Jason Glass and Andy Beshear to find other jobs. Today’s news brings us halfway toward that goal, and I’m ready to help Andy Beshear find another job this November.”
Not all legislators felt this way, though:
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