MISSION

The mission of the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative is to provide high quality services and programs that support, empower and build capacity in school learning communities, thereby benefiting children, families and the community in their roles to ensure that students achieve their highest academic, social and emotional potential.

BRIEF HISTORY

OVEC was established in 1976 under Kentucky's Interlocal Cooperation Act, as the successor organization to the Region VI Office of the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). When KDE disbanded its regional offices in the mid-1970's, the school districts served by Region VI, changed the organizational charter, renaming it the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative. OVEC took over the Region 6 offices in Shelbyville, Kentucky before moving to the University of Louisville's main campus in 1978. In 1988, OVEC moved from the University to a commercial office building in Louisville. In early 1993, OVEC relocated to LaGrange, Kentucky into its first owned facility. In March 1998, needing more office space, OVEC returned to Shelbyville, moving into a 12,000 square foot facility on five acres. The building was the first in the new Hi-Point Business development that is now populated by other office buildings and a fire department with growth continuing to occur in the area. In 2000, OVEC expanded its office space into the unfinished area of the building adding 2,000 more square feet of finished space.

Mr. Tony Harvey, who served as the executive director of the former Region VI Office, was selected as the first executive director of OVEC serving from 1976 to 1981. Dr. Thomas Jeffries succeeded Mr. Harvey in 1981. Dr. Linda Hargan began her term as executive director in 1984 and served through December 1988. Dr. John A. Rosati was named Interim Executive Director in January 1989, and was formally appointed to the position by the OVEC Board of Directors in July 1989. Dr. Rosati served in that position until his retirement on September 30, 2004. On March 17, 2004, the OVEC Board appointed Dr. Leon Mooneyhan, superintendent of Shelby County Schools as the next Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Mooneyhan took office on October 1, 2004.

Other important staff members serving at OVEC include: Andrea Skaggs was employed in 1989 initially as secretary and later as Administrative Assistant. Eventually, Andrea was prompted to Bid Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the CEO. In 1989 Sandy Powell was employed as OVEC's Grant Writer. As a result, OVEC quickly began to grow with new federal grant awards in Even Start, Head Start, Gifted Education, to mention a few. In 1993, Michael Franken was hired as Director of Instructional Support Services and later appointed as Executive Director for Instruction. Also in 1993, Mark Elmore was hired to manage OVEC's financial and accounting operations. Mark now serves as Chief Financial Officer for OVEC. In 1996, Dave Mehl was hired to manage OVEC's growing technology, network, and Internet needs. Dave now serves as OVEC's Chief Technology Officer.

Karla Gibbs joined OVEC in 1990 with the initial Even Start grant program and continues to serve in leadership of literacy and family education programs. In 1991, OVEC became a Head Start agency under the direction of Peggy Grant. Later, Kim Lovell would replace Ms. Grant as director and oversee significant expansion of the program where which today the program has expanded to serve birth to three-year olds in Early Head Start program and three and four-year olds in the Head Start program. Expansion of the Early Head Start programs in 2003-04 resulted in over 100 employees serving in the Head Start/Early Head Start programs. In 1995, Carrie Bearden was hired to direct the Exceptional Children Services program. Ms. Bearden expanded the program's array of services by hiring learning strategies consultants and behavior specialists to work with local districts.

In 1992, OVEC and the University of Louisville's College of Education and Human Resources formed the UofL/OVEC Partnership for Professional Development. The Partnership was initially lead by Ken Jones and currently is headed by Carol Wright. The Partnership continues today in providing a variety of initiates involving the College and OVEC member districts including alternative certification programs and support for teachers seeking National Board Certification.

OVEC employs over 200 full and part-time employees.