1

Vita

of

Jon Robert Akers

EDUCATIONEastern Kentucky University, 1984

University of Kentucky, 1984

Rank 1, Secondary Education

Principalship and Superintendency

Eastern Kentucky University, 1974

Master of Arts Degree in Education

with emphasis in Political Science

Eastern Kentucky University, 1970

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science

Minor in Sociology

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2004Eastern Kentucky University, Dept. of Correctional and Juvenile Justice Studies (Instructor)

1989Eastern Kentucky University, Educational

Administration (Instructor)

1974Eastern Kentucky University,

Political Science (Instructor)

1970-1975 Winburn Junior High School, Civics (Teacher), Fayette County Schools, Lexington, Kentucky

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

2001-presentExecutive Director, Kentucky Center for School Safety

2000Kentucky Leadership Academy – Cadre 4 (Mentored 35 principals)

1999-2000 Educational Consultant-James N. Gray Co.

1999-2000Faculty member of the WorldClass Academy for

Principals, sponsored by the Florida Chamber of Commerce

1989-1999Principal, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Fayette County Schools, Lexington, Kentucky

1984-1989 Principal, Bryan Station Senior High School, Fayette County Schools, Lexington, Kentucky

1981-1984 Associate Principal, Bryan Station Senior High, Fayette County Schools, Lexington, Kentucky

1975-81 Associate Principal, Lexington Junior High School, FayetteCounty Schools, Lexington, Kentucky

1973-1974 Head Teacher, Winburn Junior High School, Fayette County Schools, Lexington, Kentucky

PROJECT DIRECTOR for ten supplementary grants for school safety

  • Kentucky Center for Instructional Discipline, 2005-11-- $6 million (over 7 years)
  • Safe Routes to School grant, 2008--$7,000
  • “Too Good For Drugs” program, 2007-8--$900,000
  • Alternative Education/Persistently Dangerous School, 2005-- $245,836
  • Safe School Assessments, 2004-5--$137,586
  • Governor’s Highway Safety/substance abuse, 2004--$25,000
  • Emergency Response/Crisis Management, 2004--$32,400
  • Alternatives to suspension, 2003-4--$1,440.564 (two years)
  • Law Enforcement/School Partnership, 2003--$45,000
  • Project Safe Neighborhoods, 2003--$240,000

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS and AFFILIATIONS (past and present)

  • U. S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, serve as a presenter on Emergency Management Strategies and Readiness for Emergency Management for Schools
  • State Safe School Center Directors (sponsored by U.S. Department of Education)
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals
  • Kentucky Association of School Principals – Board of Directors, Region 11, 1992-99
  • Kentucky Association of School Administrators
  • Phi Delta Kappa – Professional Education Honorary
  • Fayette County School Administration Association (Board of Directors 1985)
  • Danforth Administrative Fellowship, 1986
  • Pi Sigma Alpha – Political Science Honorary (Eastern Kentucky University)
  • Eastern Kentucky University Center for Kentucky History and Politics Advisory Board (2000-04)
  • Kentucky Education Leadership Institute, University of Louisville, 1984
  • The Council of Educational Facility Planners International
  • Kentucky School Plant Management Association

AWARDS AND HONORS

  • 1998Kentucky High School Principal of the Year, awarded by

Kentucky Department of Education

  • 1998Kentucky Association of School Administrators Leadership
Award
  • 1997-98Peer Principal Exchange Network – Georgetown College
  • 1996Designated Kentucky Distinguished Educator by the

Kentucky Department of Education

  • 1995F.A.M.E. Outstanding Teacher Award (first time awarded

to a principal)

  • 1993Administrator of the Year, Kentucky School Media

Association

  • 1993Pi Sigma Alpha – National Political Science Honor Society –

Outstanding Alumnus in Political Science, Eastern Kentucky University

  • 1992Principal of the Year, Sponsored by the 7th District PTSA

(14 surrounding counties)

  • 1989Life Member of the Kentucky Congress of Parents and

Teachers

  • 1986-88 Danforth Fellow—Awarded opportunity with 19 other high school principals from the United States to study and implement Effective School practices into each respective 20 pilot high schools.
  • 1975Outstanding Secondary Educator of America; Sponsored by

Fuller and Dees, Washington, D.C.

  • 1975Teacher of the Year, Sponsored by Civitan International

Authored:

  • Co-authored “Prevention and Mitigation” curriculum for the U.S. Department of Education’s “Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools” grant program.
  • Co-authored “Education Physical Plant Safety” curriculum for the U.S. Department of Education’s “Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools” grant program.
  • Co-edited “Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools” four-phase curriculum the U.S. Department of Education’s “Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools” grant program.
  • Authored school-based test preparation program for the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS)state testing.
  • Co-authored: Kentucky School Leader, Fall, 2006 “Leading: Management and Instruction—the Safe School Assessment.”
  • Published: Kentucky School Leader, Fall, 2007, “Student Cell Phones Should Be Prohibited in K-12 Schools.”

Presentations:

  • Presented at the Connecticut School Security Symposium, January 7, 2013 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting tragedy.

(Prevention/Mitigation phase of Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools.)

  • Presented to state education groups, which have received emergency management grants from the U.S. Department of Education, in the followings states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
  • Guest lecturer at the following state universities: Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, Murray State University, Morehead State University, Asbury University Kentucky State University, University of Louisville, Catharine Spalding University, St. Catharine College, University of the Cumberlands, Transylvania University, Georgetown College, Campbellsville University and Midway College.
  • Made presentations to school faculties, boards of education, state education cooperatives, Kentucky General Assembly and Kentucky State Board of Education.
  • Presented a variety of school safety topics to multiple school districts, local, state and national education conferences.

Some topics include:

  • Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools
  • School Event Safety
  • Why Kids Act the Way They Do?
  • Bullying: What you need to know
  • Parental Aggression Toward Educators
  • Positive School Climate
  • Effective School Standards
  • How to Open a New High School
  • Leadership Styles workshops
  • School Facilities: Design, Construction and Model Procurement Laws
  • How to Create an Academic Boosters Club
  • How to Develop a Comprehensive Alcohol, Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention Plan
  • How to Develop a Student Athlete Drug Testing Program.

Some Committees served on: (by topics)

  • College and University Campus Safety Task Force, 2008 (appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher)
  • Co-chaired the Student Drug Testing Task Force, 2007 (appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher)
  • School Safety Endorsement Standards Committee, 2003
  • State testing program for students, 1997—School Curriculum Accountability and Assessment Council, represented 500 secondary school principals (appointed by Governor Paul Patton)
  • Certified Staff Salary Committee, 1991-- Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky
  • District Staffing Committee, 1990-- Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky
  • School Starting Time, 1989—Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky
  • District Calendar Committee, 1985-89--- Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky
  • “Forging the Future” Task Force Committee for School Improvement, 1985-- Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky
  • Transportation Advisory Committee, Chair, 1982-- Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky
  • Special Education Policy and Procedures Committee, 1976-- Fayette County Public Schools. Lexington, Kentucky

Served as an expert witness:

  • Lacy Griffith/Carl Griffith vs Linda Hatter et al, Casey County Schools, Kentucky,

April, 2008

  • Jane Doe natural guardian of John Doe vs Independent School District No. 2154 (Eveleth-Gilbert Schools), Minnesota, March, 2009
  • Jaime Caldwell vs Gina Lakes et al, Kentucky, April, 2010