KENTUCKY, USA — It seems Kentucky's current Commissioner of Education had his eyes set on another role outside of the Commonwealth.
Dr. Jason Glass was named a finalist for a superintendent position with Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland, a spokesperson confirmed.
Glass was one of four finalists, spokesperson Toni Konz Tatman said, but at this time, he hasn't accepted the role.
Update: On Tuesday, May 16, the Baltimore school district announced its deputy superintendent would get the role, not Dr. Jason Glass.
"Until and if that occurs," she said. "He continues to serve as Kentucky's Commissioner of Education."
Tatman added that Glass' current contract runs through September 2024. He has been serving as commissioner since September 2020.
In a statement, Glass says he is "proud of the work to prioritize meaningful student learning, innovation, and collaboration with communities."
"Serving as Commissioner in my home state of Kentucky has been an incredible professional honor and I am grateful to the Kentucky Board of Education for giving me this opportunity," he said.
But Glass also said, "At this point in my career, I am seeking a place where our family can put down roots and where I can have a long-term and meaningful impact on an educational system."
In recent months, Glass has faced heavy criticism from within the state's Republican-dominated legislature.
"It has been clear to Dr. Glass that the education priorities of the legislature are focused on culture war issues and dismantling the state's public schools," Konz Tatman said.
In March, lawmakers overrode Governor Andy Beshear's veto of Senate Bill 150 instead choosing to make the sweeping anti-trans bill law.
The law negatively impacts transgender youth and forbids the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in Kentucky's schools.
"Commissioner Glass does not share these values and hopes Kentucky can find a way to recommit to supporting public schools and to creating meaningful learning experiences for all students," Konz Tatman said.
Former Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Board member Sam Corbett says education in Kentucky continues to be increasingly political and believes that won't change regardless of who the education commissioner is.
"It's his job to enforce and implement these laws, and therefore in some cases, he's giving opinions and providing ideas to the local school systems throughout the state -- I think it's space he didn't want to be in, but out of necessity he was forced there," Corbett said.
Corbett added that the Baltimore developments didn't come as a total shock, noting Glass' past disagreements with Kentucky House and Senate leadership and a field of GOP gubernatorial candidates calling for his removal.
"The commissioner has to look out after his own welfare and his family's welfare," he said.
Corbett believes even if Glass doesn't get the Baltimore job, he's "more than likely" going to be looking for other opportunities down the road.
Despite calls for his removal and taking the role at the height of the pandemic, Glass said even through the hard times, "I have loved every minute of it."
Konz Tatman tells WHAS11 that the application for the Baltimore job closed in mid-April, and Glass made the cut. It appears, based on his statement, that he's looking to move on from the KDE whether he gets the new job or not.
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