Josh Underwood

Current teacher trustee Josh Underwood won a third term on the TRS Board of Trustees as a result of this year’s members’ election.

The four-year term begins July 1.

Mr. Underwood, of Tollesboro, is an active member trustee. He has served the previous eight years on the board’s investment, insurance and scholarship committees. Mr. Underwood has taught science for 23 years in middle and high schools and is currently the physics, physical science and aviation teacher at Mason County High School. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Morehead State University and a master’s from Montana State University. Mr. Underwood also is National Board Certified, is a past president of the Kentucky Science Teachers Association and has served as a member of the Kentucky Education Association’s Teaching Advocates Leading Kentucky (TALK) conference planning committee. Mr. Underwood also received the Kentucky Department of Education’s 2015 High School Teacher of the Year award and KEA’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013.

Mr. Underwood was elected in this year’s member voting, which was conducted in April and May.

The board consists of 11 members: seven people elected by the membership (four active teachers, one retiree and two lay trustees); two appointed by the governor with investment experience; the state treasurer; and the state education commissioner.

(Posted June 2024)