Speaker of the House, Greg Stumbo (center) accompanied by Jon Akers, Executive Director of Kentucky Center for School Safety (left) honor Dr. Jack Rose for dedication to education in his 49-year career

Dr. Jack Rose was honored on his impending retirement June 30, 2014, by the Board of the Kentucky Center for School Safety at their June 17th meeting in Frankfort. The Honorable Greg Stumbo, Speaker of the House, addressed the KCSS Board Members, staff and visitors bestowing Rose a well-deserved plaque for exemplary service and leadership during his 49-year career in secondary and post-secondary education.

Rose, professor in the Department of Educational Studies, Leadership and Counseling at Murray State University started his career as a high school chemistry, math and physics teacher. He then moved to Associate Professor at Murray State University, next became superintendent for two school systems, then became the of Dean of the College of Education at MSU.

He is a graduate of Murray High School, earned his undergraduate and master degrees (BS, MATS) at Murray State University and completed his EdD at Indiana University.

Rose has been successful working with local, state and federal officials. In order to capitalize on every available resource, as Superintendent of Calloway County Schools, under his leadership tens of millions of dollars in external funding were acquired from state and federal sources for community advancement in facilities and programs.

Rose has chaired a number of local, state and national groups promoting and strategically planning the advancement of public education throughout his career. He was humbled by the opportunity to serve the education profession by serving as President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, based in Atlanta, GA., 1993. In 2010, as President of the Board of Directors, of Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, he was able to realize a dream building and paying for a new facility for the YMCA Youth Association. Rose’s long commitment to community service placed him as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Murray Calloway County Hospital. During his tenure on the board the hospital added a $60,000,000+ addition and set in action the fundraising for Hospice House. As a member of the Council on Higher Education, Rose procured Murray’s first ladder fire truck. He has also served as president of the Murray Lions Club and Chaired the Murray-Calloway County Annual Red Cross Drive.

The recipient of numerous awards, Rose recently received 2014 Faculty Distinguished Service Award from Murray State University,  just designated by the Board of Regents as Professor Emeritus as of July 1, 2014, first to receive the Dr. Charles and Marlene Johnson Outstanding Education Faculty, Kentucky Association of School Administrators William T. Nallia Educational Leadership Award. He has also received the Murray Calloway County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Murray State University.

In order to make MSU, COE a partner in the Kentucky Center for School Safety, Rose spearheaded the grant writing process after Kentucky passed House Bill 330. Murray State University, College of Education has housed a component of KCSS for fourteen years.

Since 2003, Rose has dedicated part of his professional career to school safety. “For students to be able to reach their maximum potential, they must feel safe and be surrounded by a healthy learning environment,” says Rose. He continues “I’m dedicated to a high quality education and a safe school culture.”