Travis may seek position as commissioner
of education - The Marshall native is currently
chairman of the Kentucky Board of Education
BENTON, Ky. -- Kentucky Board of Education
Chairman Keith Travis says he might be interested
in applying for the job as the state's next
commissioner of education.
Travis, a Benton resident, said he wants to
avoid any appearance of conflict of interest
and has removed himself from discussion and
decisions regarding what qualifications the
board wants in its next commissioner.
"I'll wait and see what criteria the board
sets before I make a decision (about applying),"
Travis said. "I didn't want to be involved
in the process and then decide later I wanted
to apply. This way, if it doesn't work out,
then that's OK."
He also said he doesn't want his potential
candidacy to discourage anyone else from applying.
Board members began informal discussions earlier
this month about the qualities they were looking
for as the replacement for Dr. Gene Wilhoit,
who resigned in November after six years to
head the Council of Chief State School Officials
in Washington, D.C. Travis did not attend the
meeting.
Board members felt the next commissioner should
be a proven leader who can help the state reach
its goal of having all schools reach minimum
proficiency standards by 2014.
Members also feel the next commissioner should
be familiar with the state's education system
and be able to work well with lawmakers, business
leaders and educators.
Travis, 53, has a wide range of education experience,
including working as a volunteer parent at Calvert
City Elementary School, president of the school's
PTO, service on the Marshall County Board of
Education and nine years on the state school
board, including his current position as chairman.
While state commissoners over the past 15 years
have been from an education background with
education degrees, the board said it would be
open to nontraditional candidates with experience
in other areas, such as business and the military.
Previous commissioners have worked to design
programs to meet proficiency goals in all schools,
but the next commissioner will be charged with
carrying out the programs, Travis said.
"The programs are in place to meet the
goals," Travis said. "Over the next
seven years, the work is going to be about implementation."
Travis is an engineer who also has worked in
business administration. He currently is the
human resources director of the Murray-Calloway
County Hospital.
In addition to his grassroots education experience
in Marshall County, Travis has worked with all
of the state education commissioners since the
Kentucky Education Reform Act was approved in
1990. He also has served on most committees
of the state board, and six years ago was on
the search committee that recommended Wilhoit.
The state board will hold a public hearing
Friday in Frankfort to solicit public input
on the qualifications of the next commissioner.
The full board could approve those qualifications
at its February meeting. The board has already
set the salary at $220,000.
