The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, Division of Innovation, has an opening for a Regional Innovation Specialist in the Central Kentucky region.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Division of Innovation seeks a dynamic, professional leader to join our Regional Innovation Specialist (RIS) team. RISs are frontline partners in advancing the United We Learn vision—supporting districts as they co-create vibrant, equitable learning experiences, adopt innovative assessments, and build local accountability systems. The successful candidate will blend instructional expertise with analytical insight and a strategic outreach mindset, collaborating statewide to ensure every Kentucky learner benefits from deeper learning.
Key Responsibilities:United We Learn Strategic Implementation and Support:
Coach districts in designing and enacting personalized, competency-based deeper learning strategies.
Model a growth mindset—seek feedback, pursue self-directed learning, and adapt to evolving district needs.
Innovative Initiatives Support:
Portrait of a Learner: Facilitate development/implementation of competency frameworks that capture holistic student growth.
Vibrant Learning: Guide schools in creating high-quality vibrant learning experiences aligned to deeper learning strategies and KY Academic Standards.
Local Laboratories of Learning (L3s): Serve as point-of-contact; coach prototypes, surface lessons, and elevate findings to the department, Kentucky Board of Education, and other audiences.
Evidence and Analytics:
Collect, analyze, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative evidence (e.g., surveys, artifacts, focus-group data) to inform strategy and communicate impact.
Support districts in building credible measures of student learning and system effectiveness
Community Engagement and Outreach:
Design and execute strategic marketing campaigns (email, newsletters, targeted communications) to boost participation in professional learning and amplify local success stories.
Engage families, business leaders, and community partners to co-create transformative learning experiences.
Scaling, Spreading, and Collaborating:
Work side-by-side with regional co-ops, KDE colleagues, external partners, and other RISs to co-develop resources, maintain coherent statewide messaging, and share workload equitably.
Confidently represent KDE with Central Kentucky districts and diverse stakeholder groups.
Professional Development and Capacity Building:
Design and facilitate engaging professional development on vibrant learning, innovative assessment, and other United We Learn priorities.
Provide sustained coaching that helps educators, site leaders, and district leaders translate vision into daily practice.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrated success using data analytics or qualitative research to drive instructional improvement.
Proven ability to craft outreach/marketing strategies that increase engagement and event attendance.
Experience facilitating professional learning for large, diverse audiences, including district leadership teams.
Track record of co-creating resources and meeting shared deadlines on distributed teams.
Familiarity with human-centered or user-centered design methodologies.
ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES: Professionalism & Reliability – punctual, responsive, and mindful of representing KDE.
Collaborative Mindset – builds trust, communicates openly, and ensures consistent statewide messaging.
Flexibility & Continuous Learning – eager to learn independently and adapt in a fast-moving innovation landscape.
Strategic Thinking – sees big-picture statewide goals while addressing local context.
Supportive Spirit – celebrates teammates' successes and readily shares resources.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Must be a graduate of a college or university with a master's degree in education or related field. Must have five years of professional experience in education. Current Rank II or Rank I certification by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board will substitute for the required educational requirement. Additional professional experience in the field of education will substitute for the required educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Applicants and employees in this classification may be required to submit to a drug screening test and background check. Applicants currently under contract with a local school district or regional educational cooperative are required to provide a written release from their superintendent or director prior to an offer of employment will be given. NOTE: This position will be filled through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The applicant selected for this position must be an employee of a Kentucky local school district, regional educational cooperative, or institution of higher education.
TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, please send resume, and letter of interest directly to: Christy Ricketts, Division of Resource Management, 300 Sower Blvd, Frankfort, KY 40601. Email:
christy.ricketts@education.ky.gov
Applications are not kept on file and must be resubmitted.
This position will remain open until filled.
An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/D