Shae Hopkins to retire as CEO of Kentucky Educational Television. August 19, 2026 Kentucky Educational Television announced Wednesday the retirement of CEO Shae Hopkins. Hopkins intends to step down at the end of the year and will stay through the transition of appointing a successor, the station said in a news release. "We are deeply grateful for Shae's exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to KET's mission to serve Kentuckians across the commonwealth," said Kentucky Authority for Educational Television Chair Dan Griffith in a news release. "Her dedication, knowledge and experience will be hard to replicate. Her profound impact on KET's programming and operations is a lasting legacy that is recognized and celebrated by us all." "We know the next leader will be inheriting an opportunity to build on KET's significant organizational momentum and guide the future of this trusted, service-oriented educational institution," Griffin added. Hopkins has led KET since 2010. She joined the network in 1986 and also worked as founding president for the Commonwealth Fund for KET and as deputy director of programming, production and education. Hopkins served on the PBS board of directors from 2013-19 and rejoined the board in 2022. She has also been on the boards of the National Educational Telecommunications Association and the Public Television Major Market Group. In 2011, Hopkins received the National Advocacy Award from America's Public Television Stations. She received the Daniel K. Miller Station Leadership Award from PBS in 2025. "It was my good fortune to have been mentored by KET's founder Len Press and to have had the opportunity to engage in such meaningful service with such an extraordinary organization all these years," Hopkins said. "It has been an honor to work with and learn from dedicated professionals, and to engage with viewers, generous supporters, committed board members and passionate volunteers, all the while making dear friendships along the way. It has been an immense privilege to serve everyone who values and relies on KET every day." "I want to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has contributed to making KET what it is today and to ask for your continued support as KET finds more ways to serve our commonwealth," Hopkins said. Featured jobs. Bellevue, WA Washington, DC SALT LAKE CITY, UT KUER, NPR Utah Phoenix, AZ New York, NY New York Public Radio Phoenix, AZ Portland, OR All Classical Radio Missoula, MT Montana Public Radio Albuquerque, NM KUNM Radio University of New Mexico Rock Island, IL WVIK, Quad Cities NPR

KET CEO Shae Hopkins to retire at end of 2026. By Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal USA Today Network via Reuters Connect Updated August 19, 2026 12:41 PM Gift Article Longtime Executive Director and CEO of Kentucky Educational Television Shae Hopkins is set to retire at the end of 2026, according to an Aug. 19 release. A 40-year veteran of KET, Hopkins led the statewide public media network for almost 17 years. Under her leadership, KET has been recognized with 40 regional Emmy awards and 144 nominations and 83 national and state awards, among other accolades. "It has been an honor to work with and learn from dedicated professionals, and to engage with viewers, generous supporters, committed board members and passionate volunteers, all the while making dear friendships along the way. It has been an immense privilege to serve everyone who values and relies on KET every day," Hopkins said in the release. "I want to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has contributed to making KET what it is today and to ask for your continued support as KET finds more ways to serve our commonwealth." Hopkins is responsible for launching The Kentucky Channel, a 24/7 television service focused on Kentucky news. She is also credited with creating production studios in the Kentucky Capitol, establishing the Louisville Production Center and guiding recent studio improvements. "Under her leadership, the use of KET's programs and services has doubled, steadily growing to more than 2 million viewers and users each week," the release states. Throughout her career, Hopkins has been recognized with the National Advocacy Award from America's Public Television Stations, Kentucky Daughters of the American Revolution Media Award, four regional Emmy Awards and three Telly Awards. In 2025, she received the Daniel K. Miller Station Leadership Award, Public Broadcasting Service's highest honor. In the release, Kentucky Authority for Educational Television Chair Dan Griffith said a search committee will begin its work in the coming weeks to determine her successor and is focused on finding candidates with extensive public broadcasting experience. "We know the next leader will be inheriting an opportunity to build on KET's significant organizational momentum and guide the future of this trusted, service-oriented educational institution." The announcement comes nearly one month after Renee Shaw announced she was retiring from KET after 29 years. Reach reporter Lillian Metzmeier at [email protected]. Reporting by Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal / Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect This story was originally published August 19, 2026 at 12:12 PM.

KET to host Alma's Way: Explore Your City event in northern Kentucky. For Release: 07/27/26 7:57 AM KET Education is hosting a free, family-friendly Alma's Way: Explore Your City event at the Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch on August 15, 2026 from 10 am to 1 pm. In partnership with TANK, Read Ready Covington and the Kenton County Public Library, the event will feature hands-on activities, stories and games inspired by Alma's Way. Families will also learn how they can get around their community to connect and discover local places together. The event is free, but online registration is required at KET.org/AlmasWay. KET is Kentucky's largest classroom, providing trusted programming, lifelong learning opportunities and essential services to more than two million people each week. Learn more about Kentucky's preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on X @KET and at facebook.com/KET.