 Kentucky Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Thomas Tucker is one of three new members of the Blessings in a Backpack board of directors. Photo by Joe Ragusa, Kentucky Department of Education
(FRANKFORT, KY) – Blessings in a Backpack, the only national organization solely dedicated to feeding kids on the weekend, has appointed Thomas Tucker, deputy commissioner and chief equity officer for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), as the board’s newest member.
“As a passionate member of our community, joining the Blessings in a Backpack board is very important to me,” said Tucker. “Having worked in various educational roles for nearly four decades, I have witnessed firsthand the urgent need for programs like Blessings in a Backpack. They play a crucial role in feeding hungry children every weekend right here in our backyard, and I am proud to support their critical mission."
Tucker boasts nearly 40 years of experience in public education, including roles as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary curriculum and superintendent. In October 2020, Tucker was named the KDE’s deputy commissioner and its first chief equity officer, serving in the Office of Teaching and Learning.
Prior to joining KDE, Tucker was the superintendent of Douglas County Schools in Colorado. He also previously served in district leadership positions in Ohio, where he was named the 2016 American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators State Superintendent of the Year. In 2013, he earned the National Alliance of Black School Educators National Superintendent of the Year Award.
Originally from northeastern Arkansas, Tucker earned his bachelor’s degree in English education from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark. He furthered his education at The Ohio State University to earn a master’s degree in educational administration and his doctorate in communications and higher education.
In addition to his work with Blessings in a Backpack, Tucker is an active member of many educational associations, civic organizations and committees, including the National Alliance of Black School Educators and the American Association of School Administrators.
“Dr. Tucker brings invaluable experience to our board of directors,” said Erin Kerr, CEO of Blessings in a Backpack. “We are confident that Dr. Tucker’s passion for serving his community will help us advance our mission of ensuring children don’t suffer from food insecurity on the weekends.”
Blessings in a Backpack also announced two other additions to its national board of directors: Tiffany Brown of Georgia, managing director of Alvarez & Marsal’s Corporate Performance Improvement division; and Scott Whicker of Michigan, senior vice president and president of Molex’s Transportation Innovative Solutions division.
Blessings in a Backpack is governed by its national board of directors, comprised of 13 volunteer corporate, civic and community leaders. The board’s primary responsibilities are governance oversight, fiduciary accountability and providing strategic direction of organizational priorities through collaborative engagement with the senior leadership team.
In the United States, one in five kids relies on their school’s free and reduced-price meal program to provide the nourishment they need to learn and grow. During the 2022–2023 school year, Blessings in a Backpack provided over 3.3 million hunger-free weekends for children nationwide in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
Visit the Blessings in a Backpack website to learn how you can help end childhood hunger on the weekends in your community.
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