Governor Edwards of Louisiana Re-Elected Chair of the Southern Regional Education Board
Chancellor Johnson of Oklahoma is vice chair

News News Release

LAC officers are Senator Millar of Georgia and Representative Carney of Kentucky

Atlanta, Georgia — June 26, 2018 — Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana was re-elected to serve another one-year term as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was re-elected at the organization’s annual meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, on Sunday.

Governor Edwards leads the collaborative work of governors, legislators and state education leaders on SREB’s 80-member board to improve public education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education. He also serves as chair of SREB’s Teacher Preparation Commission.

“It’s an honor to have been re-elected by the SREB Board, and I look forward to another exciting year of working together,” said Gov. Edwards. “As partners within SREB, we are able combine our efforts and ideas to find ways to improve educational outcomes so that all of our states become better places for students to get a quality education, find gainful employment and develop a great quality of life. From pre-K to career pathways to college affordability, states must work together through SREB in order to ensure our children are prepared to meet the demands of a growing workforce.”

Glen D. Johnson of Oklahoma, chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, was elected vice chair, succeeding Joyce Elliott of Arkansas. A former state legislator and speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, he has been an active leader on the SREB board since 2010, including chairing the Commission on College Affordability in the South.

Senator Robert H. Plymale of West Virginia was re-elected as treasurer of the Board. A member of the West Virginia legislature since 1993, he has been an SREB board member since 2003. “It’s an honor to serve SREB, which I believe is the premier education policy organization for our states,” Plymale said.

SREB Legislative Advisory Council Officers

State Senator Fran Millar of Georgia was elected chair of SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council at the SREB meeting, succeeding Senator Alan Baker of Alabama. The chair of Georgia’s senate higher education committee, Millar has served in the senate since 2011. He has been a member of the SREB Legislative Advisory Council since 2012 and was active with SREB’s commissions on early childhood education, teacher preparation and college affordability.

Representative John “Bam” Carney of Kentucky was elected vice chair of SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council. The chair of Kentucky’s house education committee, he also serves as a member of the house budget review subcommittees on postsecondary education and on primary and secondary education and workforce development. He has served actively with SREB since 2011.

“The importance of Governor Edwards’ leadership for SREB and education cannot be overstated,” said SREB President Dave Spence. “And at the heart of our work are leaders such as Senators Plymale and Millar, Representative Carney and Chancellor Johnson, who are committed to improving education for students in their states.”

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislators who recognized the link between education and economic vitality. Member states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.