Garris Stroud
“2021 offers us a new year of opportunities to challenge inequities, make big asks of our leaders and have bold conversations about improving student outcomes in rural communities. Let’s get to work.”
A Focus on Rural Communities
As a rural educator and citizen, Garris is passionate about improving educational access and outcomes for all Kentucky students, but especially those whose voices often go unheard. Most notably, Garris has been outspoken in his advocacy for teacher recruitment initiatives like the GoTeachKY campaign. He serves on the Kentucky Commissioner of Education’s Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) and writes about public education issues at Kentucky School Talk.
Digital Divide
With rural families already facing an uphill climb just to get connected, we have an obligation to make sure this year doesn’t see more of the same inequities as last. Internet For All must be a policy priority to make sure rural students can keep learning.
Kentucky TOTY
Garris Stroud is a teacher and education advocate from Western Kentucky. He was a semifinalist for Kentucky’s 2020 Teacher of the Year and a former Hope Street Group Kentucky State Teacher Fellow.
Follow Garris’ local activism efforts in Kentucky.