(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Gov. Matt Bevin made several appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions.

The following people have been appointed to the Read-to-Achieve Council:

  • Laura VanHoose Baker of Somerset is a teacher with Somerset Independent Schools. She shall represent elementary teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
  • Laura Marie Perry of Danville is an assistant principal at Camp Dick Robinson Elementary School (Garrard County). She shall represent reading intervention teachers or administrators and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
  • Jackie Risden-Smith of Perryville is chief academic officer for Lincoln County Schools. She shall represent members familiar with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Enola Salsman Layton of Georgetown is a teacher with Bourbon County Schools. She shall represent gifted and talented teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Rosemarie Young of Louisville is a field placement coordinator at Bellarmine University. She shall represent university or college professors and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Connie Cobb of Georgetown is a public school media specialist for Clark County Schools. She shall represent librarians or certified media specialists and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Sara Elizabeth Jennings of Morgantown is the district literacy coach for Russellville Independent Schools. She shall represent parents and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
  • Ashley Fishback of LaGrange is a teacher at Shelby County High School. She shall represent middle or secondary teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
  • Ashley Nicole Mofield of Nancy is a teacher at Shopville Elementary School (Pulaski County). She shall represent special education teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
  • Kellie Ellis of Richmond is an associate professor at Eastern Kentucky University. She shall represent speech language-pathologists and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.

The Read-to-Achieve Council is composed of 15 members, 10 of whom are appointed by the governor. The council recommends approval of grants and advises the Kentucky Board of Education and the Department of Education regarding the costs, needs, trends and effectiveness of various reading intervention programs used in schools throughout the Commonwealth.

New appointees to the Kentucky Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education are:

  • Julia Link Roberts of Bowling Green is a professor at Western Kentucky University. She shall represent members of a public postsecondary institution and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
  • Brandy Carol Daniels of Somerset is a member of the Pulaski County Board of Education. She shall represent parents of a gifted or talented child and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
  • Michael Edwin Marshall of Georgetown is a teacher at Scott County High School. He shall represent science, math or technology teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
  • Monica Nicole Lewis of Versailles is a guidance counselor at Woodford County High School. She shall represent school counselors and serve for a term ending June 30, 2019.
  • Carla Tipton Pleasant of Lexington is a program facilitator for Fayette County Public Schools. She shall represent middle or secondary school teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Joe Percefull of Crestwood is a gifted and talented educational services coordinator for Oldham County Schools. He shall represent gifted and talented program coordinators and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • John Taylor Thompson of Georgetown is a professor at Georgetown College. He shall represent members of a private postsecondary institution and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Dianne Burns Mackey of Utica is a small business owner. She shall represent members at-large and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
  • Lindsay Webb Oliver of Lancaster is a kindergarten teacher at Paint Lick Elementary School (Garrard County). She shall represent elementary school teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
  • Kimberly Breeding Lake of Verona is director of academics and student services at Walton-Verona Independent Schools. She shall represent superintendents or district assessment coordinators and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
  • Diana Kozar of Union is a middle school teacher at Gray Middle School (Boone County). She shall represent arts and humanities teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.

The Kentucky Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education is composed of 15 members, 11 of whom are appointed by the governor. The council offers recommendations regarding services for gifted and talented students in Kentucky’s education system.