Perry named Center for Next Generation Leadership executive director
Karen Perry, Ed.D., has been named executive director of the Center for Next Generation Leadership at the University of Kentucky College of Education. The statewide network, based on a student-centered national movement, supports schools and districts across the Commonwealth to innovate and enhance learning and teaching experiences.
“Dr. Perry’s exceptional leadership skills, extensive experience and dedication to advancing education make her the ideal candidate for this role,” said Danelle Stevens-Watkins, Ph.D., the College of Education’s acting dean.
Perry, a seasoned educator with a proven track record, has been associate director of the center since 2019. She was instrumental in developing a teacher rank-change model and grant-funded intermediary role in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education. Her experiences prior to UK, as director of personalized learning in Henry County Schools in Georgia and as a high school social studies teacher, demonstrate her deep understanding of the education landscape.
“I’m deeply honored and excited to accept this new role,” Perry said. “The Next Gen team has been doing important work in Kentucky for many years and it is a privilege to continue to advance our mission and deepen our impact.”
Lu Young, Ed.D., who previously served as executive director of the center, will continue leading the center’s flagship Next Generation Leadership Academy, now in its 14th year.
“I’m excited to pass the baton to the capable hands of Dr. Perry,” Young said. “She is the heart and soul of Next Gen into the future and I have every confidence that Next Gen will thrive under her leadership.”
Young, a clinical professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies, has positioned the Center for Next Generation Leadership on a strong foundation, having transitioned it from a small, single-project to a broad and growing center with multiple field-based services and initiatives, said Justin Bathon, Ph.D., J.D., Department of Educational Leadership Studies associate professor and chair and faculty director of the Center for Next Generation Leadership.
Travis Hamby, superintendent of Allen County Schools, was a member of the executive director search committee.
“Dr Perry is respected across Kentucky for her leadership in support of student-centered, vibrant learning for every learner,” Hamby said. “She is poised to take Next Gen to the next level and I look forward to working with her in this new role."
Michelle Hunt, chief academic officer of Fleming County Schools and long-time partner of the center, said Perry’s experience has prepared her for the position.
“I can think of no one better to take over as Next Gen Executive Director than Karen Perry,” Hunt said.
"The appointment of Perry as executive director is in keeping with the long tradition of practitioner-scholars determined to bridge the space between schools and the state’s flagship university," Bathon said. “The center has been a pioneer in shaping school innovation in Kentucky. It has played a crucial role in seeding deeper learning practices, building alternative models to traditional school, and developing a generation of leaders across Kentucky, boldly shaping a brighter future for children."
The center was established in 2011.
“Dr. Perry is taking up the spark started by Linda France, supported by Dr. Carmen Coleman, grown by Dr. Lu Young, and now passed to Dr. Karen Perry. It is not a coincidence that this bridge has been built and sustained by a series of bold academic leaders, representative of the hundreds of largely unsung women who guide and sustain our schools. Dr. Perry, though, stands out as exceptionally ambitious and persistent in the goal of improving the learner experience of school and, as such, is perfectly positioned to lead our center into the future,” Bathon said.
The Center for Next Generation Leadership has emerged as a key player in shaping the future of public education in Kentucky. Its flagship Leadership Academy, robust school professional development partnerships, ChangeMakers teacher rank-change model, Next Generation Scholars dual credit program and role as an intermediary in the United We Learn innovation efforts of the Kentucky Department of Education all contribute to its significant presence across the Commonwealth. A recent Impact Report from the center underscores the transformative role it plays across the education landscape and highlights the growth of the center over time.
To learn more about the Center for Next Generation Leadership and engage around efforts to shape the future of education in Kentucky, visit nextgen.uky.edu.