Kentucky Board of Education appoints Robin Kinney as interim commissioner

Robin Kinney will temporarily lead the Kentucky Department of Education after Commissioner Jason Glass leaves the role at the end of the month.

In a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the Kentucky Board of Education named Kinney, who is an associate commissioner of the Office of Finance and Operation within KDE, to serve as interim education commissioner. She will serve in the role while a national search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

As interim commissioner, Kinney will receive an annual salary of $260,000. She starts Sept. 30. Board members discussed their selection in a closed session without the public for about half an hour. Board Chair Sharon Robinson said Kinney is not eligible for the permanent job.

“The board is confident in Robin’s dedication to public education and her experience in KDE,” Robinson said in a statement. “She will serve our state well during her tenure as interim commissioner. We appreciate her willingness to take on this important role, and we look forward to her leadership as we continue our mission to provide the best education for Kentucky’s students.”

Kinney previously served as interim education commissioner after former Commissioner Wayne Lewis left the department in 2019. She first worked for KDE from 2003 to 2008 before rejoining the department in 2015.