The Kentucky Board of Education has voted to hire Stephen L. Pruitt as the state's next education commissioner.
All but one board member was present Wednesday and voted unanimously to offer the position to Pruitt, a Georgia educator and currently senior vice president of an independent education reform organization. Board member Samuel Hinkle did not attend the special meeting.
Pruitt was the only remaining candidate for the job after another finalist withdrew this month.
The Education Department said this week the board plans to ratify a contract for the new commissioner at its Oct. 6 meeting. Pruitt is expected to start in the position later in the month.
Pruitt has served at Achieve Inc. since 2010.
Former Commissioner Terry Holliday retired last month. Associate Commissioner Kevin Brown is serving as commissioner in the interim.