Smith asked the board for a separation agreement in January 2016, which the board agreed to pursue with a 6-3 vote. Hamilton Southeastern Schools has created the Community Insider to provide HSE families and community members with information about local happenings. This needs to change and my bill will put parity and fairness into the system., Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: 1654 0 obj <> endobj Accessibility; MSDS; HTSD YouTube Channel; Kelly had been serving as co-acting superintendent with Dr. Lee McDade since former superintendent Rick Smith announced his resignation on March 14, 2016. Individuals can alsoreview the agenda items and see what action was taken by the board. Know Your Worth. The Times Free Press reached out to Connor for comment but he did not respond before press time. Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Mr. Joe Smith School Board District 3 . School board member David Testerman called Kelly's budget a "wish list," and said it's time the commission states whether it will raise taxes for schools. Fugate went before the school board in December to ask members to submit a resolution. [10], The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:[11], The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:[11][12], During the 2018-2019 school year, 6.1% were English language learners and 12.6% of students had an Individual Education Plan (IEP).[15][16]. table#officeholder-table th, td {font-size: 10px; } However, they are required to provide additional tutoring. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Also, a substitute may be dismissed for any single specific action that is determined to warrant dismissal by the Superintendent. How many people are on a school board and who do they represent? Submit yours today! A.M.O.R. "[18], Thurman and Martin said they voted for Sadler because they wanted someone who was removed from the district. Click here . RULES GOVERNING ANY COMMENTS TO THE BOARD. background-color: #fdd007; } Being a school board member is not a full-time job and members can have a variety of occupations. The resolution also . more, The moratorium in Soddy Daisy on accepting short-term rental applications has been extended for six more weeks for non-owner-occupied rental properties that are not the primary residence of the more, A woman at 1817 Broad St. told police she and her friend returned to her friends car, a black Ford Fusion, and found a man sitting in the car. 2023 Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Our education budget is over half of the countys total budget which shows the importance we place on giving our students a quality education. We are fortunate and proud to support an overall high achieving population of students. Call IndyStar education reporter MJ Slaby at 317-447-1586 or email her at mslaby@gannett.com. All rights reserved. 5686 Highway 129 South - Suite 1 Jasper, FL 32052 | Phone: (386) 792-7800 | Fax: (386) 792-3681. He said, Serving on the board of a school district is a huge responsibility and time commitment that comes with making a variety of complex, difficult and weighty decisions. Chattanooga, TN 37421 [ map it] Public Notice. The salary starts at $39,027 per year and goes up to $46,519 per year for the highest level of seniority. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. How to vote | Board memberscan either represent a specific township and be required to live in that township of the school district or be an at-large member who can live anywhere within the district boundaries. "[18], Smith announced his resignation after being criticized for how he handled the alleged rape of a high school freshman by three of his basketball teammates. Adamson added that board members don't always have all the answers for the communityand can serve as a connector to make sure the community member reaches out to the district employee who can address the complaint. to provide that the salary of each elected school board member shall be the amount calculated pursuant to s. 1001.395(1), F.S., or the district's . The district plans to start at these two schools, and will consider expanding to more schools in coming years. This process will allow interested parties to review information prior to board meetings. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. View agenda items, board-related information and more! Help make it more accurate by, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, All Hamilton County Department of Education Salaries, average salary for a Teacher is $42,706 per year in United States, The Ultimate Job Interview Preparation Guide. Before that, Quebedeaux taught at Northridge Christian School in Guymon from 2011 to 2016. The district retired $15,364,905 of its debt and issued $20,476,524 in new debt each year on average.[8]. Open enrollment without transportation has increased socioeconomic segregation in school districts across the country, as families with the ability to transport their kids will move to the sought-after schools, leaving poor kids behind. The district served 45,052 students during the 2018-2019 school year and comprised 79 schools. All rights reserved. He or she must submit this written request to the Director of Schools no later than three (3) days prior to the Boards meeting. High-dosage tutoring is one-on-one instruction in small groups at least three times a week, or for about 50 hours over a semester. As Kelly presented the budget, he explained how the different line items in the additional $33.5 million request were tied to the district's strategic plan and would boost student outcomes. It's estimated that the school district will receive about $9 million more than last year because of an increase in property and sales tax revenue, along with a boost in state funding. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Find out more about GreatSchools ratings . If this happens, the substitute will be notified. Individuals speaking to the Board shall address their remarks to the Chairman. Public policy. Hamilton County Schools / Staff / Human Resources / Substitute Teaching. Ballot measures, Who represents me? The average salary for a Teacher is $42,706 per year in United States, which is 18% lower than the average Hamilton County Department of Education salary of $52,260 per year for this job. The law, which took effect in the 202223 school year, requires third graders who do not score proficiently on the English language arts portion of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program to receive additional tutoring or risk retention. text-align: center;
padding-left: 10px !important; State Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) announced that he is filing legislation calling for pay equity for school board members in Tennessee. "So our job as board members is to best represent the students and the parents and the teachers. State and local courts | What is the board's role in COVID-19 planning? Our teachers use the Indiana Academic State Standards and various curricular resources as a framework to develop their lessons. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. text-align: center; 519 West Kalamazoo. Make sure to review so you dont miss any important dates. Yet, the school board members who chart the course to carry out that mission receive less than half of the compensation paid to our county commissioners who appropriate education funds. | Jun. Registration is now open for the 2023-2024 school year! Some school boards have relied on their superintendents to take the lead and figure out adjustments, while others havepassed resolutions to become more involved in areas such as deciding if students will have the option to attend in-person and when. Click on the substitute packet link above for a full copy. Boards are accountable for everything but manage nothing, said Michael Adamson, director of board services for the Indiana School Boards Association. These are some of the top-rated public schools in Lansing based on a variety of measures, including academic performance and equity. Hamilton County has not raised taxes for schools in 12 years. "I also think they're trying to figure out a way to get parents more involved in the early education of their children, but this isn't the appropriate way to do it.". At a September literacy summit in Collegedale, state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said the consequences of a child not learning to read are significant for adult society. Please note, iftwoschools/departments request that a substitute not be called, the sub will be removed entirely from the substitute list and released as a substitute. fatal Woodmore Elementary school bus crash in November. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Prior to the 2022 election, the school board consisted of nine members. @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { Here's what to know about school boards before heading to the polls: School boards oversee their school district to make sure that the district policies are implemented and bills are paid, Adamson said. Senator Gardenhire said, Most school board members work the same amount of time and sometimes longer hours than their counterparts on the local governing bodies. Hamilton county redistricting will likely impact County Schools, and the number of school board members. Martin said he thought Sadler "fears no one and he owes no one. Under the law, third graders who are approaching English language arts proficiency have the option to participate in a summer bridge program to achieve proficiency or receive high-dosage tutoring throughout their fourth-grade year. text-align: center; 0
It has since amassed more than 2,600 signatures. The Hamilton County Board of Education appointed Kirk Kelly as interim superintendent of the district in a 5-4 vote on April 21, 2016. Hamilton Community Schools is an above average, public school district located in HAMILTON, MI. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements. The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. When itcomes to districts response to COVID-19, Adamson said school boards responses have varied, largely because there is no clear guideline of how to conduct a schoolin a pandemic. There are also a few that have a mix of appointed and elected members. This includes Hamilton County, where county commissioners receive approximately $25,394 per year plus benefits, as compared to the approximately $12,365 per year received by school board members. 1675 0 obj
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Per state law, each member can receive up to $2,000 a year as well as meeting stipends that are a maximum of $112 per regular meeting and $62 for a special meeting, Adamson said. color: white; Kirk Kelly was the interim superintendent of the Hamilton County School District from 2016 to 2017. Smith announced he would retire from the district on July 1, 2016, but he took leave from the district immediately after he announced his resignation on March 14, 2016. Contact Carmen Nesbitt at cnesbitt@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Please be prepared to pay the $49.25 fee by either credit/debit card. Bus safety was also discussed during Thursday's meeting, as Durham School Services CEO David Duke gave a presentation to the board about the safety upgrades the company has completed since the fatal Woodmore Elementary school bus crash in November. Board Docs; Board Members ; BOE Assignments; BOE Board Presentation; BOE Committees; BOE Meeting Agendas; BOE Meeting Minutes; BOE Monthly Meeting Schedule; . For example, Adamson said a board can decide to pay moving expenses for a new superintendent. hbbd``b`$WT R $v bHl"G~ q #+;@ e
Those meetings are typically when members will ask questions about new hires before voting onpersonnel during a regular meeting. 9 /10. Board Room. "Parents, teachers and students in Hamilton County need to know that our school board supports students and not the new retention law," Fugate told board members at December's board meeting. To watch, scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Watch Live". "The consequences are a lot greater for society than they are for teachers," Watson said in an interview at the summit. .partytd.Democratic { padding-right: 10px !important; Sequel, Chattanooga Tourism Co. Launches 3rd Grant Cycle, Bob Tamasy: Love Means Having To Say You're Sorry, "Jezebel And Jesus" Is Sermon Topic At Middle Valley Church Of God, Josh Dobbs Is Speaker At Annual FCA Banquet. Meetings are held in the Board Room of Hamilton Southeastern Schools Central Office located at 13485 Cumberland Road. Our subscriber-exclusive newsletter filled with local education news, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. They are set to vote on it next week. Copyright 2023, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. more, The moratorium in Soddy Daisy on accepting short-term rental applications has been extended for six more weeks for non-owner-occupied rental properties that are not the primary residence of the more, A woman at 1817 Broad St. told police she and her friend returned to her friends car, a black Ford Fusion, and found a man sitting in the car. Wellness Expo On March 11, 65 Roses 5K On March 25 To Raise Money For Cystic Fibrosis, Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon Weekend Starts Friday, Annual Brick Wall Genealogy Class Held In Dalton, Chattanooga Hotel, Terminal Station And Trigg-Smart Building Receive Tennessee Historic Development Grant, Museum & Cultural Center At 5ive Points Has New Exhibit On State Symbols, ReLeaf Free Tree To Give Away 1,000 Free Trees Beginning March 4, White Oak Mountain Ranger: "Do It Yourself" Turkey Calls, Chattanooga Area Anglers To Compete For $300,000 Next Week At Major League Fishings REDCREST 2023 At Lake Norman, Blue Water Therapy At Sandals Royal Bahamian In Nassau, Bahamas, IMAX Adds A One-Two Magic Punch With Arrival Of Creed III And Shazam! Smith's previous career experience included working as a teacher, middle school director, and deputy superintendent in the district. background-color: #003388; 90 Park Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08690. "I also reflect on what we can do differently to make our operations safer than ever and prevent something like this from happening again," he continued. We now offer online payment through this link-https://hamiltonfl.revtrak.net/. The district had a yearly average of $96,219,571 in outstanding debt. Tennessee has 147 local school districts, among them the Hamilton County school system. Smith believes the public would support a tax increase, but advised Kelly against presenting an unbalanced budget to the Hamilton County Commission in coming weeks. Study Hall:Our subscriber-exclusive newsletter filled with local education news. erin.miracle@lansingschools.net. Hamilton Southeastern Schools invests in the growth of all students. Our education budget is over half of the countys total budget which shows the importance we place on giving our students a quality education. Gardenhire said current state law requires school board members be paid at least $3 per meeting. The two women asked the man to get out of the car more. The estimated total pay for a Teacher at Hamilton County Department of Education is $52,260 per year. Tennessee has 147 local school districts, among them the Hamilton County school system. If the Executive Committee of the Board approves the request, the individual will be listed on the Boards printed agenda and recognized at the appropriate time. . Members of the Hamilton County School District school board are elected to four-year terms. Hamilton County School District is a school district in Tennessee. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Non-Discrimination & Non-Harassment Statement, ADA & Title IX, VI, VII Compliance Information. } The board has since granted the developer multiple extensions, including a six-month extension in September. Third graders who are well below English language arts proficiency must participate in both summer bridge programming and high-dosage tutoring in fourth grade. March 16, 2023 at 4:30 PM - Work Session. And while they are elected officials, school board members can only make district decisions as part of the boardand cant make decisions for the district as an individual member. However, boards typically include time for public comment in their regular meeting. Any resident of Hamilton County may appear before the Board of Education to comment upon the operation of the Hamilton County Schools. However, the majority of school boards are paid at a much lesser rate. "The community wants change, and the opportunity might come again before people start to leave. School board member Joe Smith said he wants the district to be able to fund everything in the proposed budget. Currently, Tennessee law requires school board members be compensated at least $3 per meeting, with the governing body having the final say on how much is paid above that minimum amount. Republican board member Gary Kuehn, of Ooltewah, and Democrat board member Ben Connor, of Chattanooga, are sponsoring the resolution. .partytd.Republican { Board of School Trustees Board of School Trustees The Board of School Trustees meet on the second Wednesday of each month and periodically on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. 2023 www.indystar.com. All documents associated with the meeting are automatically archived and can be accessed by meeting date or by using the systems comprehensive search feature. Downloadable breakfast and lunch menus for all grades are available here. Apply today! Contact staff writer Kendi A. Rainwater at krainwater@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Details. Lansing, MI 48933. %%EOF
Jill Levine, chief academic officer for Hamilton County Schools, said the district is excited to pilot the program to "increase options and opportunities for students." Carmel Clay: The board has five seats three each representing a specific district and two at-large seats. We are excited that you are interested in substituting with Hamilton County Schools! Check your county election board's website to see if you can get a sample ballot to see who candidates are atindianavoters.in.gov/CountyContact/Index. Cities | State Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) announced that he is filing legislation calling for pay equity for school board members in Tennessee. 3074 Hickory Valley Road. In order to take on the commitment, members must make significant personal and professional sacrifices. Averages based on self-reported salaries. Phone: 423-498-7020. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? A.M.O.R. The resolution also cites insufficient funding for the added instruction as a reason to amend the law. Go do your school district's website to find out who the current board members are as well as find meeting schedules and agendas. Rick Smith was the superintendent of the Hamilton County School District from 2011 to 2016. 100% remote. 18The Hamilton County Board of Education voted Thursday to move forward with hiring nine more student security officers or SSOs at area schools, which would nearly double the number of SSOs in the district from 10 to 19. [2][17], Board members Steve Highlander, Joe Galloway, George Ricks, Karitsa Mosley, and David Testerman voted in favor of Kelly as interim superintendent. background-color: #6db24f; Other responsibilities of the school board include providing educational programs as well as transportation and mealsfor students, overseeing the districts budget and paying the bills, approving personnel decisions, and making decisions about construction and buildings. School board members Tiffanie Robinson and Kathy Lennon supported the pilot, commenting that it's giving parents more choice in their children's educations and being a good steward of facilities. UPDATE (February 17th): At their meeting Thursday night, Hamilton County School Board members reversed their decision on differentiated compensation. 5686 Highway 129 South - Suite 1 Jasper, FL 32052 | Phone: (386) 792-7800 | Fax: (386) 792-3681 } "The good news is, is this law is requiring that these kids get extra support, which I do think is something that's needed," Director of Student Acceleration Breckan Duckworth said previously in a phone call. He said, Serving on the board of a school district is a huge responsibility and time commitment that comes with making a variety of complex, difficult and weighty decisions. The Board Secretary will also circulate to the Board members any documents or materials that the individual submitted in support of his or her request to speak. GovSalaries. It has 2,759 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. We were informed Tuesday afternoon that Resolution No: 1121-5A had been materially changed to now commit the Hamilton County School Board to an 11-member school board district. Substitute Teaching. [1], The Hamilton County School District school board consists of 11 members elected by district to four-year terms. How to run for office | Elections in 2023 | Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time. Likewise, the Chairman will not allow a speaker to address any employee or to make derogatory comments regarding any employee. Commissioners gave Hotel Hamilton LLC final approval for the redevelopment plans in 2020. The legislation requires that pay and benefits for school board members be set at the same rate provided to individuals serving on the local governing body. The Board of School Trustees meet on the second Wednesday of each month and periodically on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Follow her on Twitter @kendi_and. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. The table below separates the district's expenditures into five categories identified by the agency: The table below shows the amount of debt retired, issued, and outstanding in the district for each year. If a group of individuals wishes to address the Board about the same matter, the group must select one (1) individual to speak on its behalf unless the group specifically requests permission for multiple individuals to speak on the same topic. MIDDLE $74,777, BROWNLEE, JENNIFER T ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ORCHARD KNOB ELEMENTARY $74,523, YARBROUGH, SARAH LEIGH ANN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MIDDLE VALLEY ELEMENTARY $74,519, GANO, KENNETH C IS-TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY $74,367, HAYES, TERSHEIA M ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL DONALDSON ELEMENTARY $74,066, REYNOLDS, BETHANIE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HUNTER MIDDLE $73,487, WADE, KRISTIE A TEACHER WEST 40TH STREET $73,446, COPPINGER, CAROL ANNE B TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $73,402, GRAHAM, MELISSA JO COORDINATOR OPPORTUNITY ZONE $73,193, MARTIN, BELINDA GIITOUN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BRAINERD HIGH $73,193, BULL, LARRY RUFUS JROTC INSTRUCTOR SODDY DAISY HIGH $72,505, HARRELL, ERIN R COORDINATOR HUMAN RESOURCES $72,273, LANDTROOP, JILL M TEACHER OPPORTUNITY ZONE $72,102, MARTIN, ANTONIO DONATO PROGRAMMER ANALYST SENIOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY $72,061, PAUL-LADD, CHERYL C TESTING COORDINATOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TESTING $72,061, ORMSBY, JENNA K ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CHATT SCH LIBERAL ARTS $72,031, PHILLIPS, CECILLE JANE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL EAST BRAINERD ELEMENTARY $71,935, COFFMAN, ROBIN RENEE TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $71,685, JOHNSON, NINA ARLENE TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $71,685, LOWE, MICHELLE S TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $71,685, MARTIN, SHEILA ELLIS TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $71,685, MULLINS, ANGELA W TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $71,685, POTTER, LEIGH A TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $71,685, PRINGLE, KIMBERLY S ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SNOW HILL ELEMENTARY $71,629, THEDFORD, SELINA C TEACHER HOWARD SAT $71,361, BURNS, KELLY A SUPERVISOR, PAYROLL FINANCE $71,188, ELLISON, ROMA D PURCHASING PURCHASING $71,188, COTHRAN, BRENDA J ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OOLTEWAH ELEMENTARY $71,175, LANE, SARAH F ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BROWN ACADEMY $71,151, GARDNER, CHARHONDA L TEACHER EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP $70,398, IRVIN, VICTOR D JROTC INSTRUCTOR EAST RIDGE HIGH $70,293, FORD, SHARON E EXECUTIVE ASST TO THE BOARD SUPERINTENDENT $70,235, SHELL, MARVIN DAN TEACHER RED BANK MIDDLE $70,225, DAGNAN, SHERRY P SCHOOL COUNSELOR SIGNAL MTN MIDDLE/HIGH $70,185, GRANT, ERIN L INDUCTION SPECIALIST HUMAN RESOURCES $70,056, Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report:
Among the seats, there are three contested positions on the board. One example isSpeedway Schools which has members that are appointed by the town board. personnel issues, student issues, instruction and finance. School Board. Hello and thank you for visiting the Lawton Community Schools website. Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Program, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), Hamilton Township Community Resources 2021, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Board members voiced support for the budget Hamilton County Schools Interim Superintendent Kirk Kelly presented to them Thursday night in a finance committee work session. } } During public comment, board members listen but are not required to respond. For example, Indianapolis Public Schools and Hamilton Southeastern Schools have seven-member boards while Carmel Clay Schools and Zionsville Community Schools have five members on their boards. The Hamilton County Board of Education is set to vote Thursday on a resolution requesting the Tennessee General Assembly to amend the third-grade retention law and allow school districts to make . April 14, 2017 at 1:00 a.m. The budget provides funding for 32 school resource officer . The board voted unanimously to grant Hotel Hamilton LLC the extension to approval, letting the developer take more time to resolve the issues. 62% of third graders are not yet proficient in English language, 18 proposals to address concerns about the law. endstream
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<. Except for executive sessions, school board meetings must be public meetings and boards must give 48 hours notice to the public. Board Chairman Jonathan Welch and fellow member Donna Horn voted for magnet school principal Jill Levine, and Rhonda Thurman and Greg Martin voted for retired U.S. Marine officer Shaun Sadler. Substitute Teachers, Bus Drivers, Custodians, and Food Service Assistants- The Hamilton County School District seeks qualified individuals to serve in these capacities. Each person speaking shall state his or her name, his or her address, and the subject of his or her presentation. There may be multiple reasons for pay differences - one of which is a small number of salaries submitted per job. So the consequences of not doing this are much greater.". Accordingly, the Board encourages individuals with complaints or concerns to speak with the appropriate employee or administrator rather than first addressing the Board. That includes students with disabilities, English language learners and those who have already been retained -- students otherwise exempt from the retention law. This unfortunate situation does occur from time to time AND is based on the need for all employees to be accountable for the safety, welfare, and academic achievement of district students. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district. Boards are the ones that create a district's policies, he said, so if there's something wrong with the policy, that's on the board. However, boards do approve personnel decisions. Please be prepared to pay the $23.00 fee by either cash, check, or money order (made payable to Hamilton County School District). And I don't think this law does.". District officials previously told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that they do not expect to retain a significant number of students. The board has taken no action until now. The extra funding would give teachers a 5 percent raise, provide new technology and post-secondary opportunities, and increase the number of literacy coaches at schools, among other things. Please apply through ESS, our substitute staffing partner: Meeting Type: Regular. Providing a World Class Education. Kelly's previous career experience included working as the district's director of accountability. } State executives | Ballotpedia features 395,557 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers.