The ARCC Advisory Board plays an important role in guiding our work. It is charged with advising the ARCC about its strategies for monitoring and addressing the region’s education needs, maintaining a high standard of quality, and conducting its activities so as to promote student achievement. Board members are education stakeholders nominated by their state education superintendent or commissioner. Governors approve nominees for the state before their final approval by the U.S. Department of Education.

Kentucky
Chief State school officer, or such officer’s designee
Dr. Stephen Pruitt – Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Education
Representative of local or regional educational agency, including local educational agency serving urban and rural areas
Robert King – President, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE)
Representative of institutions of higher education
Jeff Hawkins – Executive Director, Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative
Representative of business
Stu Silberman – Executive Director, The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence
Policymaker, expert practitioner, or researcher with knowledge of, and experience using, the results of research, evaluation, and statistics
Dr. Kate Shirley Akers – Deputy Executive Director, Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Tennessee
Chief State school officer, or such officer’s designee
Dr. Candice McQueen, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education
Representative of local or regional educational agency, including local educational agency serving urban and rural areas
Awaiting appointment by the Governor
Practicing educator, including classroom teacher, principal, or administrator
Dr. Jason Bell – Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum and Assessment, Polk County Schools; Executive Board Member, Tennessee Rural Education Association
Representative of business
Awaiting appointment by the Governor
Policymaker, expert practitioner, or researcher with knowledge of, and experience using, the results of research, evaluation, and statistics
Amy Owen – Director of Academic Strategy, Tennessee Department of Education
Virginia
Chief State school officer, or such officer’s designee
Dr. Steven R. Staples – Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education
Representative of institutions of higher education
Dr. Lucia Sebastian – College of William and Mary, School of Education
Parent
Anne Carson – Virginia PTA
Practicing educator, including classroom teacher, principal, or administrator
Awaiting appointment by the Governor
Representative of business
Katie Fessler – Senior Manager, Corporate Contributions, Altria Group
West Virginia
Chief State school officer, or such officer’s designee
Dr. Michael J. Martirano, State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia Department of Education
Parent
Justin Raber – Immediate Past President, West Virginia PTA
Practicing educator, including classroom teacher, principal, or administrator
Michael Funkhouser – West Virginia Teacher of the Year, English Teacher at East Hardy High School
Representative of business
Gary Clay – Armstrong World Industry
Policymaker, expert practitioner, or researcher with knowledge of, and experience using, the results of research, evaluation, and statistics
Patricia Hammer – Coordinator, Office of Research – West Virginia Department of Education
Chief State school officer, or such officer’s designee
Kentucky
Dr. Stephen Pruitt – Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Education
Tennessee
Dr. Candice McQueen, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education
Virginia
Dr. Steven R. Staples – Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia
Dr. Michael J. Martirano, State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia Department of Education
Representative of local or regional educational agency, including local educational agency serving urban and rural areas
Kentucky
Robert King – President, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE)
Tennessee
Awaiting appointment by the Governor
Representative of institutions of higher education
Kentucky
Jeff Hawkins – Executive Director, Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative
Virginia
Dr. Lucia Sebastian – College of William and Mary, School of Education
Parent
Virginia
Anne Carson – Virginia PTA
West Virginia
Justin Raber – Immediate Past President, West Virginia PTA
Practicing educator, including classroom teacher, principal, or administrator
Tennessee
Dr. Jason Bell – Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum and Assessment, Polk County Schools; Executive Board Member, Tennessee Rural Education Association
Virginia
Awaiting appointment by the Governor
West Virginia
Michael Funkhouser – West Virginia Teacher of the Year, English Teacher at East Hardy High School
Representative of business
Kentucky
Stu Silberman – Executive Director, The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence
Tennessee
Awaiting appointment by the Governor
Virginia
Katie Fessler – Senior Manager, Corporate Contributions, Altria Group
West Virginia
Gary Clay – Armstrong World Industry
Policymaker, expert practitioner, or researcher with knowledge of, and experience using, the results of research, evaluation, and statistics
Kentucky
Dr. Kate Shirley Akers – Deputy Executive Director, Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Tennessee
Amy Owen – Director of Academic Strategy, Tennessee Department of Education
West Virginia
Patricia Hammer – Coordinator, Office of Research – West Virginia Department of Education