Who will be Kentucky’s next education commissioner? Meet the three finalists.

A Colorado school superintendent from Kentucky, the dean of the University of Kentucky College of Education, and an assistant Jefferson County superintendent are all candidates to become Kentucky’s next commissioner of education.

The Kentucky Board of Education on Wednesday released the names of three candidates.

Kevin C. Brown is currently serving as interim commissioner of education until a new commissioner is named. When he was hired the board agreed to Brown’s request that he would not be considered a candidate for the permanent position. Brown has been serving in the role since December when Wayne Lewis resigned under pressure from a board of education appointed by newly elected governor Andy Beshear.

The board appointed by Beshear will meet July 6 and 7 to conduct second-round interviews with the three candidates in Louisville.

According to a news release from the Kentucky Department of Education, the candidates include:

▪ Jason Glass, Ph.D: A native of Brandenburg, Ky., Glass has been serving as superintendent and chief learner for Jeffco Public Schools in the metro Denver area since 2017. Prior to that, he served as the superintendent of Eagle County Schools in Colorado and as Iowa’s Director of Education, serving as the chief state school officer from 2010-2013. Glass held several posts with the Colorado Department of Education; and worked as a university instructor while a graduate student at the University of Kentucky, teaching at UK and Georgetown College. He began his teaching career as a high school social studies teacher for Hazard Independent Schools.

▪ Julian Vasquez Heilig, Ph.D. : Vasquez Heilig currently serves as the dean of the College of Education and professor of educational policy studies and evaluation at the University of Kentucky. A Michigan native, he has served as professor of educational leadership and policy studies and director of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State University. He has held numerous positions at the University of Texas, including associate professor of educational policy and planning, coordinator of the master’s program in educational policy and planning, vice-chair of the Department of Educational Administration’s Graduate Studies Committee, and assistant professor of educational policy and planning.

▪ Felicia Cumings Smith, Ed.D: Smith currently serves as the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in Jefferson County Public Schools. A Kentucky native, she also served as senior program officer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, director of the National Center on Education and the Economy, executive director of the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development and lecturer at the University of Kentucky, was an associate commissioner and K-12 education program consultant at the Kentucky Department of Education, and began her career as an elementary and reading resource teacher in Jefferson County.

The state board of education hired Florida-based Greenwood/Asher in March to lead the search for the next commissioner. The firm developed ads and accepted applications and nominations through May 31.

Brigitte Blom Ramsey, President & CEO of the Prichard Committee, said the Kentucky Board of Education chose “three exceptional candidates with the capacity to return our state to its place as a national leader in educational improvement - an imperative to prepare Kentucky’s rising generation for a swiftly changing economy. “

A new commissioner is expected to be named in mid-to late July.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 3:27 PM.