West, Jennie

Jennie West was elected County Superintendent of Schools for Christian County, Kentucky in 1909. Previous to her election West had been a school teacher and had administered her own private school.  During her tenure as superintendent, West convinced two school districts to combine.  She also experimented with boarding at one school so that students from mountainous rural areas could attend school during the snowy winter months.  West brought some improvements to the schools in the county for African American students, including holding events with teachers from the Hampton Institute in Virginia.