 The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) awarded the 2025 David Karem Award for Excellence in Education Policy to former Interim Commissioner of Education Robin Fields Kinney, center, during its June 5 meeting. Presenting the award were, from left, KBE Chair Sharon Porter Robinson and Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher. Photo by Myles Young, Kentucky Department of Education, June 6, 2025
(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) awarded the 2025 David Karem Award for Excellence in Education Policy to former Interim Commissioner of Education Robin Fields Kinney during its June 5 meeting.
Kinney said during the meeting that she is honored to receive the award, and acknowledged the work that many other members of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) do to impact public policy.
“Good public policy comes when you have time to make informed decisions, and when you have time to think about the decision you’re making and the lasting impact it may have,” Kinney said. “The Department of Education is very lucky because they have people who have been here who understand the history of public education and they can inform, advise and guide other leaders.”
The award, which is named after former KBE member David Karem, recognizes a Kentucky policymaker, education leader or citizen who has made notable state-level contributions to the improvement of Kentucky’s public education system.
Karem served on the KBE from 2009 through 2016 and again from December 2019 through April 2020. He served for 33 years in the Kentucky State Senate and as chairman of the Senate Education Committee. During his tenure in the Kentucky General Assembly, Karem championed the passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and led the efforts for the 4% school tax levy by school districts.
Kinney said that winning this award is a “full circle” moment for her because she knew about Karem’s work when he was leading the passage of KERA. Kinney said she was serving as a law clerk for Kentucky's 48th Judicial Circuit when the Rose v. Council for Better Education trial court opinion was written, which was the Kentucky Supreme Court decision that led to the passage of KERA. She also worked at KDE when Karem was on the KBE.
“I have great respect for his work on the KBE, as well as his distinguished career in the Kentucky Legislature, as a passionate advocate for Kentucky’s children and public education,” Kinney said.
Criteria for the award includes leadership in policy development, passage or implementation resulting in increased educational opportunities for students; improved educational, postsecondary or workforce outcomes for students; and/or increased capacity of teachers or school staff to better meet the academic, social or emotional needs of Kentucky students.
Kinney's career at KDE spanned more than two decades. She served as an associate commissioner in the Office of Finance and Operations and twice served as interim commissioner of education – in 2019 and 2023-2024. She retired in 2024.
Matt Ross, the current associate commissioner in the KDE Office of Finance and Operations, nominated Kinney for the award. He worked under Kinney’s leadership from 2016 to 2024. He was a policy advisor and later the interim associate commissioner in the Office of Finance and Operations.
In his nomination letter, Ross wrote that Kinney worked tirelessly with local school districts, the Kentucky General Assembly and other agencies to ensure KDE continued moving forward, focusing on stability and progress. As interim commissioner from 2023-2024, she facilitated a seamless transition for current Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher. Ross said her efforts were crucial in maintaining KDE’s momentum and focus on student success during a period of transition.
“She is a passionate advocate for children and their access to high-quality public education, and her dedication has made a significant positive impact on Kentucky's educational landscape,” Ross said in his nomination.
In terms of impacting education policy, Ross said that Kinney had a mission to help KDE restore public confidence in education by engaging with the Kentucky General Assembly in a different way.
“She personally engaged with legislators of both parties and with the Executive Branch to navigate difficult waters to communicate the needs of school districts,” Ross said. “By the end of her tenure, her personal efforts and leadership earned praise from just about all corners of the political spectrum.”
Kinney said that her goal was to foster an environment of service and professionalism as the foundation for working with legislators, superintendents, district staff and KDE staff.
“I hope some would say that I impacted education policy by being willing to engage, listen and develop positive relationships with others who have roles in influencing and creating education policy,” Kinney said.
Ross said that Kinney’s leadership was exceptionally helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the associate commissioner in the Office of Finance and Operations at the time, and Ross said that she led by example during a time when it felt like employees were building a plane in flight.
Kinney worked with the Kentucky Department for Public Health on school health measures. She worked with the Office of State Budget Director on disaster relief funds for districts. She worked to secure and distribute federal funds for districts to make huge investments in education and helped guide districts through those federal requirements. She also worked on implementing school nutrition options.
“She worked out, with the General Assembly and superintendents, how to preserve funding for school districts when students were remote, which is something that had never been done before,” Ross said. “Our whole department engaged with districts on a scope and scale that had never been seen in Kentucky.”
Kinney said that one of her proudest accomplishments at KDE was helping support districts and students during the pandemic and historic floods and tornadoes. She said KDE staff worked tirelessly to assist districts and provide accurate and timely information from state and federal resources.
“I was proud to work alongside the dedicated professionals from KDE, school districts and staff at other state agencies,” Kinney said. “Our common goal was always to do our very best in the interest of Kentucky’s children, but particularly during crisis.”
Ross said that Kinney’s leadership has had a lasting impact on KDE, setting the standard in the Office of Finance and Operations.
“She always operated with the highest level of professionalism, integrity, thoughtfulness, was deliberative, calm, kind and displayed a quiet unassuming strength throughout the many challenges the department and office encountered during her time at KDE,” Ross said. “I think her legacy is that example and the desire to live up to it for all those that she touched.”
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