First Lady Beshear Honored in Education

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2010) - Jane Beshear, first lady of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Education Hall of Fame today at a reception held at the Art Museum at the University of Kentucky.

"I am honored to be awarded a place in the University of Kentucky College of Education Hall of Fame," Beshear said. "I've always believed the education of Kentucky's children to be of utmost importance, and I am thrilled to be able to utilize my role as first lady to further this cause. The opportunity to stand beside so many of our state's education pioneers in this hall of fame is truly humbling."

"We are very proud of First Lady Beshear's accomplishments to further the cause of education in Kentucky," College of Education Dean Mary John O'Hair said. "Her devotion as a teacher and an advocate makes her a wonderful addition to the College of Education's Hall of Fame."

Other guests at the reception included O'Hair, UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy, UK Vice President for University Relations Tom Harris; Becky Blair, art teacher from Woodford County High School and former colleague of Beshear's, and Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, who made a surprise appearance.

"Jane's lifelong commitment to educational improvements in our state is inspiring," Governor Beshear said. "From her time as a teacher, to leading the charge to combat high school drop-out rates today, her passion is unwavering. I could not be more proud of her for this accomplishment."

Beshear received her bachelor's degree from the UK College of Education in 1969 and spent the first years of her career teaching at Woodford County High School. When arriving in Frankfort in the late 1980s with her husband, Steve, who was then lieutenant governor, she began working with the Kentucky Commission on Literacy to improve adult literacy rates. Her efforts in this area led to being honored with the Friend of Literacy Award by the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development, a unified effort among the literacy specialists from Kentucky's eight public universities.

 
In addition to adult literacy, Beshear also has focused her concerns on reducing the high school drop-out rate in Kentucky through the "Graduate Kentucky: A Community Approach" statewide drop-out prevention summit. She has held regional summits encouraging communities to become more actively involved in keeping young people in school. Part of her work with "Graduate Kentucky" has been her support of House Bill 301, which would require students to attend school until the age of 18. 

Beshear is the 42nd alumnus to be inducted into the UK College of Education Hall of Fame since the first class in 1989. 

The criteria for induction states that honorees must:

 
--Have earned a degree from the UK College of Education or completed a significant amount of academic work in the college;
 
--Have obtained significant achievement personally or professionally;
 
--Have demonstrated distinguished accomplishments and leadership in their chosen field of endeavor; and
 
--Have evidence of strong support for the field of education.

 
For more information on the UK College of Education, visit education.uky.edu.