Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jason Glass is stepping down.
He says he's leaving his post on September 29th to become associate vice president of teaching and learning at Western Michigan University.
In a letter to the Kentucky Board of Education, Glass said he is, quote, committed to working diligently to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities and to provide any necessary support to whomever is selected as an interim or new commissioner.
The Kentucky native was appointed in 2020.
His four year contract was set to expire in September of next year.
Glass has been publicly at odds with Republican state lawmakers in recent months on controversial matters surrounding transgender youth and an interview for Kentucky Edition last month, Glass said he believed his relationship with Republican leadership was beyond repair.
I think it's irrevocably broken.
I think that we hold each other in mutual low regard.
Kentucky attorney general and Republican nominee for governor Daniel Cameron, is weighing in on glasses, a decision he tweeted, quote, Jason Glass, a teacher, is concerned about radical gender ideology and needed to find another job.
That was not the right answer.
The right answer is that he and Andy Beshear need to find other jobs, end quote.
Republican lawmakers are also reacting.
Kentucky House Speaker pro tem David Mead of Stanford said, quote, After telling teachers they can leave the classroom if they don't want to follow the administration's radical rules.
It appears the commissioner of education finally recognizes how out of step he is with Kentuckians and is following his own advice, end quote.
The Kentucky Board of Education says it will not take any action regarding the search for a new commissioner.
During a previously scheduled meeting later this week.
Instead, the board says it will hold a special meeting in mid-August to determine its next steps.
What is certain is that the next education commissioner will be subjected to Senate confirmation following the passage of a new law earlier this year.
We'll discuss Jason Glass's decision and how it could impact this year's governor's race.
On Kentucky tonight, this evening.
And we're also looking ahead to fancy farm, the annual Super Bowl of Kentucky politics, which is now just five days away.
Join us for that conversation tonight at eight Eastern, seven Central right here on KCET.