(Frankfort, Ky.) — Jimmy Adams has been named as the new executive director of the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).

Adams was chosen by the EPSB from a field of three finalists in a national search conducted over the past five months.  He has served as the EPSB acting executive director to lead the work of the agency during the executive director search process.  Since 2013, Adams has helped guide the work of many of the board’s initiatives while serving as deputy executive director.

“The board is very excited to have Jimmy Adams accept the position as executive director,” Board Chair Anthony Strong said.  “Jimmy has done an outstanding job during the interim period as acting executive director.  His ability to lead our organization and collaborate with all stakeholders made our selection easy. I am positive that as we move forward, Jimmy will bring all parties to the table to do what is best for the children of Kentucky.”

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected by the EPSB to serve as the executive director,” Adams said. “This board is made up of a wonderful group of individuals dedicated to the welfare and well-being of the children of this great Commonwealth. I’m humbled to be able to work with them in the coming years and excited about what the future holds for education in Kentucky.”

“Mr. Adams brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the executive director position,” said Education and Workforce Development Secretary Thomas Zawacki.  “The Commonwealth’s education profession will benefit greatly from his leadership and innovative thinking,” .

Adams, of Lexington, has worked in Kentucky education for more than 20 years.  His previous experience spans all levels of education and includes work in Fayette, Woodford, and Jessamine counties as a classroom teacher and technology resource teacher.  He also has extensive district-level leadership experience, having served as 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 junior at Lafayette High School  and Ellie, a 7th–grade student at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Fayette County.

As 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.

For more information on the EPSB, call (502) 564-4606 or visit the web site at www.epsb.ky.gov.