Kentucky Department of Education

Dr. Jon Draud has been a teacher, a coach, a principal, a superintendent and a state representative. In December of 2007, he took on a much larger statewide role as Kentucky’s fourth education commissioner.

Prior to this, Dr. Draud was state legislator, representing Kentucky’s 63rd District from 1998-2007, and was vice-chair of the House Education Committee since 1999. He also served as director of School/University Partnerships at Northern Kentucky University. Draud has served as an associate professor at NKU; superintendent of the Ludlow Independent school district; assistant superintendent of Lockland (Ohio) Public Schools; member of the Kenton County Board of Education; and a school principal and teacher. He earned bachelor’s (physical education and history) and master’s degrees (school administration) from Eastern Kentucky University; a master’s degree (political science) from Xavier University in Cincinnati; and a doctorate (school curriculum and administration with a minor in public policy) from the University of Cincinnati. Among his many honors, Draud is a 2007 recipient of the Paul Mason Legislative Advocate for Children Award, presented by the Kentucky Parent Teacher Association. He also serves on the Southern Regional Education Board’s board of directors and has served on many state government task forces.

He and his wife Beverly Ann have three children—Jon, Scott and Kimberly.