In 2018, the Kentucky Department of Education finalized its 5-year strategic plan, which identified the mission, vision and values of the agency.

In 2018, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) finalized its 5-year strategic plan, which identified the mission, vision and values of the agency. To keep the entire KDE staff apprised of how the strategic plan is moving forward and of general updates on the agency, Commissioner Wayne Lewis implemented monthly “All KDE Staff Meetings,” where he also recognizes outstanding work by agency staff.
Photo by Danielle Harris, May 28, 2019

Wayne D. Lewis Jr. was named interim commissioner by the Kentucky Board of Education on April 17, 2018. The past year has been a whirlwind of action aimed at raising the bar for student learning and achievement and closing longstanding and even widening gaps between groups of Kentucky students.

This is the second of a six-part series detailing the work and achievements of the Kentucky Department of Education during the past year. To see the whole report, view this pdf.

STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTED
In 2018, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) finalized its 5-year strategic plan, which identified the mission, vision and values of the agency. KDE’s vision – that each and every student is empowered and equipped to pursue a successful future – sets the purpose for its work. In order to turn vision into action, KDE developed three strategic priorities: student success, strategic partnerships and operational excellence.

Following the completion of the strategic plan, Education Commissioner Wayne D. Lewis Jr. created a strategic management team, comprised of all seven associate commissioners, the deputy commissioner/chief academic officer, KDE’s general counsel, the chief communications officer, the chief performance officer, the executive director of the Kentucky Board of Education and the newly created director of government relations. The team is charged with providing leadership for implementing and monitoring the department’s strategic plan, as well as providing leadership for implementation of the department’s strategic plan within their offices and divisions.

To keep the entire KDE staff apprised of how the strategic plan is moving forward and of general updates on the agency, Lewis also implemented monthly “All KDE Staff Meetings,” which were formerly held on a quarterly basis. He also holds monthly brown-bag lunches with any staff members who wish to attend to discuss topics such as career and technical education, teacher retention and recruitment, and early childhood education.