Murray State University’s Holly Bloodworth named vice chair of Kentucky Board of Education

By Jillian Smith | Sep 18, 2026

MURRAY, Ky. — Holly Bloodworth, senior instructor in early childhood and elementary education in the College of Education and Human Services at Murray State University, has been named vice chair of the Kentucky Board of Education.

Bloodworth was first appointed to the Kentucky Board of Education in 2019 and is currently serving her second four-year term. Her election as vice chair builds on decades of service to public education in Kentucky, including more than 30 years in K–12 education.

“Having been part of this work for several years, I appreciate the opportunity to bring that historical perspective to the role of vice chair,” Bloodworth said. “Professionally, it is an opportunity to continue contributing to the important work of public education in Kentucky and to help support the Board as we work to make a positive difference for Kentucky’s students, educators and schools.”

As vice chair, Bloodworth said she plans to continue advocating for Kentucky’s public school educators and students, with a particular focus on meaningful learning experiences, support for educators and investment in early childhood education.

“I believe every student deserves vibrant, meaningful learning experiences that connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world,” Bloodworth said. “We need to continue breaking down barriers and building strong partnerships among schools, families, communities and other organizations so that every child has the opportunity to be successful.”

Bloodworth said her experience as a classroom teacher continues to influence how she approaches issues before the Board, particularly when considering how statewide policies ultimately affect educators and students.

“I naturally tend to think like a teacher, and I try to consider how each decision will affect educators in the classroom,” Bloodworth said. “I believe it is important to look beyond the policy itself and anticipate what it will mean for teachers and students in their day-to-day experiences.”

That perspective also connects directly to Bloodworth’s work at Murray State, where she helps prepare future educators through the College of Education and Human Services.

“In the College of Education and Human Services, we are preparing the next generation of educators,” Bloodworth said. “It is helpful to be able to share information in both directions.”

Teacher recruitment and retention are among the issues Bloodworth hopes to continue addressing through her statewide service. While competitive compensation is an important component, she said Kentucky must also consider the overall experience of educators throughout their careers.

“Creating meaningful opportunities for teacher leadership is one way to do that,” Bloodworth said. “Teachers should be able to grow and advance in their careers without feeling that they have to leave the classroom to do so.”

Bloodworth also emphasized the need to retain educators beyond the first five to seven years of their careers while developing new approaches to encourage talented individuals to enter the profession.

Professional growth has been an important part of Bloodworth’s own career. She continues to support educators pursuing National Board Certification, an experience she described as one of the most powerful professional learning opportunities of her career.

“Teachers are eager to learn and grow,” Bloodworth said. “We want to continually be better for the students we teach. It is important to support teachers in that growth and compensate them.”

Bloodworth was named the 2014 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. Since then, she has had opportunities to serve education in a variety of capacities, experiences that she said have reinforced the importance of including educators in conversations about education policy.

“Teachers need to have a voice in the decisions that shape education,” Bloodworth said. “As a classroom teacher, I never gave much thought to education policy, but in this role I see how important that perspective is.”

Her connection to Murray and western Kentucky also informs her approach to statewide leadership. Bloodworth said Kentucky’s regions have distinct communities, strengths, challenges and needs, making local perspectives an important part of statewide decision-making.

“Decisions made at the state level should provide a strong framework and clear direction, but we also need to give local educators and communities the flexibility to determine what will work best for their students,” Bloodworth said.

For Murray State students and educators who may one day have opportunities to serve beyond their classrooms and communities, Bloodworth hopes her experience demonstrates the importance of becoming involved and contributing their perspectives.

“I hope they see the importance of service,” Bloodworth said. “It is important to step up into leadership positions, to pay attention to issues and contribute to the conversation.”

“Don’t be afraid to use your voice to help shape education in our state,” Bloodworth said.