Bevin appoints new Board of Education members

A chemical engineer, a university associate professor and a pastor are among the new Board of Education members Gov. Matt Bevin announced Wednesday in a news release.

Four of the five appointees will serve four-year terms on the 12-member board, replacing David Karem, Leo Calderon, Sarah Ford and Debra Cook, whose terms expired April 14.

New board member Ben Cundiff, a chemical engineer and attorney from Cadiz, will replace Susan Edington, who was tapped late last year to fill the rest of Jay Parrent's term following his resignation. Cundiff's term will expire in April 2018.

In a statement, Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt said each appointee "brings unique experiences and expertise."

"Our collective goal is to ensure that all of our students are provided with a quality, well-rounded education that prepares them for the next step in their lives and ultimately to be successful, productive citizens of the Commonwealth, the nation and the world," Pruitt said.

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The new members are:

• Ben Cundiff, who has served on the boards of The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University, among others. He has also served on the boards of two Nashville charter schools, East End Preparatory School and Explore! Community School, according to the release.
• Gary W. Houchens, of Bowling Green, who is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Administration, Leadership and Research at Western Kentucky University. Houchens is also a former middle school social studies teacher and administrator. 
• Alesa G. Johnson, of Somerset, is an electrical engineer and serves as associate dean for Workforce Solutions at Somerset Community College. She collaborates with K-12 schools to form partnerships around workforce readiness and is involved in multiple STEM initiatives, according to the release.
• Rich Gimmel, of Louisville, is chairman of Atlas Machine and Supply, Inc. and is a "staunch advocate for students," according to the release. Gimmel mentors students through project-based learning and has worked with the Louisville Chapter of KY FAME, focusing on improving education and economic development in an apprenticeship-type work-study program.
• Milton C. Seymore, of Louisville, is retired from Ford Motor Company and currently serves as pastor of Energized Baptist Church. An "advocate for all children to have equal access to high-quality education," Seymore has held leadership roles with the Justice Resource Center and Kentucky Youth Advocates, according to the release.

Reporter Kirsten Clark can be reached at (502) 582-4144. Follow the Courier-Journal’s education team on Facebook at Facebook.com/SchooledCJ.