Jimmy Adams of Lexington will serve as the acting executive director of the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).

“As the acting executive director, Jimmy Adams, will provide not only consistency to the Board’s work but will move the many initiatives of EPSB forward during this time of transition”, said EPSB Chair Cassandra Webb.

Adams, who has served as the EPSB Deputy Executive Director since September 2013, was chosen by the EPSB to lead the work of the agency during the Executive Director search process. Former EPSB Executive Director Robert Brown retired on April 30, 2015 after serving more than 30 years in Kentucky education system.

“It is a great honor to be selected by the Board,” Adams said.  “While working with this agency I have been impressed with the amount and quality of work produced each year to support education in Kentucky. I am humbled by the opportunity and look forward to the work with our Board as we continue to support educator preparation, credentialing, and ensuring highly effective teachers in our classrooms.”

Adams has worked in Kentucky education for more than 20 years. His previous experience in Fayette, Woodford, and Jessamine counties includes work as a classroom teacher, technology resource teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of technology, director of secondary schools and assistant superintendent.

Adams received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and did additional postgraduate work at Eastern Kentucky University.  A family of educators, Jimmy and his wife, Sally are the parents of two children, Emma, a sophomore at Lafayette High School  and Ellie, a 6th grade student at the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) in Fayette County.

As acting executive director of the EPSB, Adams will oversee the daily operations of the agency, which was established as part of the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act to oversee the education profession.  The Board is charged with establishing standards of performance both for preparation programs and practitioners; accrediting educator preparation programs at colleges, universities, local school districts, and with private contractors; selecting assessments for teachers and administrators; overseeing internship programs for new teachers and new principals; operating the Continuing Education Option for rank change program; overseeing the alternative routes to certification; and issuing, renewing, investigating, suspending, and revoking Kentucky certificates for professional school personnel.