By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
A Kentucky man is a vote away from becoming assistant secretary of education.
“I will work as hard, as strategically, and as collaboratively as I can to ensure that we deliver on the promises we have made to individuals and families in this country,” said Johnny Collett in his testimony before the U. S. Senate Education Committee in Washington.
Collett, of Georgetown was nominated last month by President Donald Trump to serve with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
Johnny Collett
Collett told the panel, “The mission of the office, which I have been nominated to lead, is to ‘improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes and raise expectations for all people with disabilities, their families, their communities, and the nation.’ This mission is consistent with what I believe, how I have led, and, frankly, who I am.”
Before he began his career as an educator, Collet was a church pastor for about 10 years.
“While a different role, to be sure, it was during those years that my commitment to individuals, their particular strengths and diverse needs, and the supports that would help them achieve the life they envisioned, was firmly established. That commitment continued to be shaped as I began my career in public education,” he said.
While talking about his career accomplishments, Collett said he’s most proud “to be my wife’s husband, my children’s father, my parents’ son, and my brother’s brother. From my view, the extent to which I have been, or will be successful, will be measured most importantly by my faithfulness to God and, as a result, my faithfulness to them.”
Collett serves as the director of Special Education Outcomes at the Council of Chief State School Officers. In this role, he supports states in their work to raise expectations and improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.
He previously served as director of the Division of Learning Services and State Director of Special Education at the Kentucky Department of Education. He provided oversight to a division that included special education, as well as other program areas such as English learners, gifted and talented, response to intervention, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the Kentucky School for the Deaf.
Other roles include exceptional children consultant, assistant division director, and acting division director. Prior to working at the Kentucky Department of Education, he was a high school special education teacher. Collett is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College.
No word on when the committee will vote on the nomination.
