Director of Communications, Office of Development and External Relations

• Feb 2021 - Present

Director of Media Relations, Office of Development and External Relations

• Sep 2019 - Feb 2021

Press Secretary

• Dec 2018 - Aug 2019

Assistant Director of Communications

• Dec 2012 - Nov 2018

● Serve as the primary spokeswoman and media contact for the Kentucky Department of Education.● Provide quick and accurate responses to all media inquiries and generating media coverage as the department’s primary media point person.● Write and distribute news releases on department actions and initiatives to the media, education partners and the public. ● Monitoring, compiling and analyzing monthly media metrics. ● Directly supervise five members of KDE’s Division of Communications.● Produce internal and external materials that promote department goals and initiatives. ● Provide media training and assistance to KDE staff.● Ensure the Department’s social media message is on point.● Assist in planning and executing special events and activities.● Provide briefing materials, remarks, op-eds, PowerPoints and speeches for the Kentucky Board of Education, Commissioner of Education and KDE staff as well as the Governor’s Office, other state agencies and statewide partners.● Serve as a participating member of KDE’s Policy Advisory Committee, Strategic Plan Committee and Director’s Roundtable. Show less

Resource Management Analyst/Editor, Kentucky Teacher

• Sep 2011 - Dec 2012

● Under my leadership, Kentucky Teacher expanded to include teacher columns and content, increased marketing efforts and grew its site visits from 6,000 a month to 40,000-plus visits. ● Oversaw and managed all facets of Kentucky Teacher, including developing; assigning; editing and posting all stories; photos and columns.● Implemented marketing and promotion efforts to increase readership that include weekly emails, speaking engagements and cross-promotional activities with external partners.● Researched and wrote monthly columns for the Commissioner of Education as well as blogs, op-eds, columns, PowerPoints and other writing projects as assigned.● Assisted with public relations and policy activities, including regulation and legislation development, and internal and external communications materials. Show less

Higher education reporter

• Dec 2001 - Aug 2011

Duties included reporting and writing about postsecondary education policy and issues in Kentucky and nationally. Previously worked as the newspaper's statewide K-12 and Louisville City Hall reporter. Duties included reporting and writing about postsecondary education policy and issues in Kentucky and nationally. Previously worked as the newspaper's statewide K-12 and Louisville City Hall reporter.

Statehouse reporter

• 1997 - 2001

Duties included writing about state policy and legislation that affected coverage area and the state. Previously worked as the newspaper's education reporter and Haverhill City Hall reporter. Duties included writing about state policy and legislation that affected coverage area and the state. Previously worked as the newspaper's education reporter and Haverhill City Hall reporter.

City Hall reporter

• 1996 - 1997

Reporter

• Mar 1995 - Dec 1996

Reporter

• Sep 1992 - Dec 1993