WKU CEBS welcomes Chris Stunson as new Director of Professional Educator Services

WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Stunson as the new Director of Professional Educator Services, effective August 1. Stunson is a native of Richmond, Kentucky, and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Dean Corinne Murphy expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Stunson to our team. As a mathematics teacher, coach, principal, and community leader, Chris is intimately familiar with the needs of our professional education community. He joins our team at a particularly exciting time as we continue to focus on faculty recruitment and retention and making education a first-choice major for our next generation of college graduates.”

The Director of Professional Educator Services oversees the Office of Professional Educator Services (OPES) and ensures compliance with Education Professional Standards Board and Kentucky laws and regulations. OPES manages teacher education admissions, clinical practicum placements, student teacher internships, and certification applications. The Director is also the primary contact for P-12 school districts and community support agencies working with WKU students, faculty, and regional education partners.

Chris Stunson graduated from Madison Central High School in 2004 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Education from Union College, where he was an outstanding student and athlete. He is the recipient of the Dr. Jean Letch Education Award, the Union College Mathematics Award, the Peer Mentor of the Year Award, and was named to the Dean’s List. Stunson later completed his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands in 2013.

Stunson began his career in education in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he taught math at Warren Central High School and coached the women’s basketball and track teams. He then served as assistant principal, athletic director, and interim principal before being named principal of Bristow Elementary in 2015.

In addition to his teaching work, Stunson is a dedicated mentor to youth in the community, working with programs such as Upward Bound and the WKU Young Male Leadership Academy. He helped found the Boys to Men Leadership Group, which serves several schools in the Bowling Green/Warren County area.

Stunson’s contributions to education have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Trailblazer for Education Award from the Bowling Green Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Planning Committee, the Golden Apple Award from the Warren County Board of Education, and the Outstanding Educator Award from the Kentucky Parent Teacher Association. He has also been honored as a “Rising Star” by the Union College Hall of Distinguished Alumni and currently serves on the Union College Board of Trustees.

WKU is excited about the expertise and leadership Chris Stunson brings to OPES and looks forward to the positive impact he will have on the university’s teacher education programs.

For more information about OPES, visit https://www.wku.edu/educatorservices.