FRANKFORT, Ky. – Interim Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis today announced the hiring of Brad Montell as director for government relations for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). He will begin his role with the department on Sept. 1. Montell previously served as the deputy secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet (EWDC).
“Having worked with Brad previously, I am confident that his understanding of both Kentucky education policy and the Kentucky General Assembly will serve the students and educators well with his transition to the Department of Education,” said Lewis. “While serving as a state representative, Brad championed several pieces of education legislation that continue to serve Kentucky well.”
Prior to his work with EWDC, Montell served as a seven-term state representative from Simpsonville. He was first elected to the Kentucky General Assembly in 2002. He was a Warren Central High School history and political science teacher for nearly a decade before joining the securities and investment industry in 1989.
“I come from a family of public educators,” said Montell. “Both of my parents taught and instilled in me a love of both teaching and learning. I’m thrilled at this opportunity to return to my roots and to engross myself in education policy work with the Kentucky General Assembly to help improve the state’s education system.”
Montell will resign his position as deputy secretary on Aug. 31.
“As Deputy Secretary of this Cabinet, Brad has played a large role in many education and workforce initiatives over the past two years,” said EWDC Secretary Derrick Ramsey. “From helping award $100 million in grant funding through the Work Ready Skills Initiative to high schools and colleges around the state, to helping reform the state’s unemployment insurance laws, Brad has worked relentlessly to improve Kentucky’s education and workforce.”
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