Gov. Bevin makes appointments to State Advisory Council for Exceptional Children

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2017) – Gov. Matt Bevin today made the following appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions:

Anita Carol Dowd, Julie Ann Rubemeyer, William Hadaway Greer, Anna Katherine Light, Donald A. McCormack, Dr. Eric Wesley Umstead, Libby Ellen Suttles, Amber Nicole Barnes, Melissa Lee Knight, Amy Sue Folker, Leisa Carol Hutchinson, Tricia Shawn Gibbons, Danny Kay Hughes, Stephanie Michelle Knipper, Kimberly Ann Chevalier, Adria Elaine Johnson, Carey Cockerell, Joseph Lee Hamilton Jr., Margretta Gayle Hylton, Barry Dale Lee, and Dr. Brent Douglas Hutchinson have been appointed to the State Advisory Council for Exceptional Children.

• Anita Carol Dowd, of Lawrenceburg, is an executive staff advisor for the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. She will represent individuals with disabilities or exceptional needs and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
• Julie Ann Rubemeyer, of Elanger, is a teacher with the Dayton Independent School District. She will represent parents of an exceptional child ages birth through 12 years and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
• William Hadaway Greer, of Bowling Green is division vice president for marketing with Atmos Energy. He will represent parents of an exceptional child ages 13 through 26 years and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
• Anna Katherine Light, of Somerset, is a special education teacher with Rockcastle County Schools. She will represent elementary special education teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
• Donald A. McCormack, of Louisville, is a special education teacher with Jefferson County Public Schools. He will represent middle or secondary special education teachers and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
• Dr. Eric Wesley Umstead, of Murray, is a professor at Murray State University. He will represent higher education members that prepare special education teachers and serve for a term expiring June 20, 2019.
• Libby Ellen Suttles, of Danville, is executive director of Wilderness Trace Child Development. She will represent private sector providers of programs for exceptional children and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
• Amber Nicole Barnes, of Mt. Eden, is a job placement specialist with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. She will represent individuals with disabilities or exceptional needs and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Melissa Lee Knight, of Lebanon, is president of Farmers National Bank of Lebanon. She will represent members meeting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Amy Sue Folker, of Frankfort, is an insurance policy analyst for the Kentucky Department of Insurance. She will represent members meeting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Leisa Carol Hutchinson, of Bowling Green, is a speech/language pathologist instructor at Western Kentucky University. She will represent members meeting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Tricia Shawn Gibbons, of Covington, is a former service learning coordinator and volunteer coordinator. She will represent members meeting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Danny Kay Hughes, of Monticello, is a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. He will represent members meeting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Stephanie Michelle Knipper, of Independence, is an educator and author. She will represent members meeting the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020.
• Kimberly Ann Chevalier, of Union, is assistant superintendent for Walton-Verona Independent Schools. She will represent public school administrators of programs for exceptional children and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
• Adria Elaine Johnson, of Louisville, is commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services. She will represent child welfare agency members responsible for foster care and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
• Carey Cockerell, of Georgetown, is commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. He will represent members affiliated with juvenile correction or transitional services and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
• Joseph Lee Hamilton Jr., of Louisville, is deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services. He will represent members experienced with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
• Margretta Gayle Hylton, of Cannel City, is an exceptional child consultant with the Kentucky Department of Education. She will represent state agency members involved with the financing or delivery of services to children with disabilities and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
• Barry Dale Lee, of Yosemite, is director of special education for Pulaski County Schools. He will represent members of the vocational, community or business organizations concerned with the provision of services to disabled children and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.
• Dr. Brent Douglas Hutchinson, of Emmalena, is executive director of the Hindman Settlement School. He will represent members of private schools or public charter schools and serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021.

The Kentucky State Advisory Council for Exceptional Children is composed of 21 citizen members appointed by the Governor. The Council provides policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in Kentucky and advises and assists the Department of Education regarding the provision of appropriate services for children aged birth through 20.