Board of Education

Title: Member

Email: Jeff.Beach@fortthomas.kyschools.us

Jeff is serving his fourth term on the Board of Education, having served previously during 2000-2004 and again beginning in 2008.  Jeff is a 1988 graduate of Carroll County High School (KY), received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree from Murray State University in 1992 and completed his Masters of Business Administration with Xavier University in 1997. He is a Vice President with Visa, Inc., working with companies around the country to promote Visa payments, products and services.  Jeff's wife, Diane (Walkenhorst), is a 1988 graduate of Highlands High School and 1992 graduate of Hanover College. Jeff and Diane have three children: Mallory (HHS Class of 2019), Natalie (HHS Class of 2022) and Sydney (current student at HHS).  Jeff's hobbies include biking, attending Fort Thomas Schools' functions and spending time with family and friends.

Title:  Member

Email: Clem.Fennell@fortthomas.kyschools.us

Clem is serving his first term on the Board of Education beginning January 2023. He was born and raised in Fort Thomas, graduating from Highlands in 2001. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Kentucky in 2005 where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the football team. More importantly, at UK he met his now wife Casey (Niehues) Fennell. They have 3 daughters: Collins (5^th Grade), Cecily (3^rd Grade) and Clementine (Kindergarten). Clem is the President and Owner of PCI Services, a local commercial and industrial mechanical contractor.

Title:  Member

Email: Sarah.Foster@fortthomas.kyschools.us

Sarah began her board service in January 2023.  Prior to this, she was elected to four terms on Woodfill Elementary’s School-Based Decision Making council, served for seven years on the Woodfill PTO board, and volunteered for numerous school events.  She enjoys giving back to the community and is honored to serve on the school board.

Sarah grew up in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and is a 2001 graduate of Montgomery County High School. She obtained her BA in English from the University of Kentucky in 2005 and her JD from NKU Chase College of Law in 2009.  Her legal career has been in public service for the courts as an attorney and mediator. She currently works for the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sarah and her husband, Charlie – a Nicholasville, Kentucky native and fellow University of Kentucky graduate – have lived in Fort Thomas since 2006. Charlie is also active in the local community as a parent volunteer for school events and as youth soccer coach.  They are the proud parents of two children in the Fort Thomas school system – Madeleine, a prospective 2027 HHS graduate and Jack, a prospective 2030 HHS graduate. 

Title: Vice-Chair

Email: Julie.Kuhnhein@fortthomas.kyschools.us

Julie began her board service January 2021.  She has been involved in the Fort Thomas school district since 2001 when she began her teaching career at Highlands High School.  During her 10 years there, she taught various Social Studies courses, worked with We the People and started the Mock Trial program. As a parent in the district, Julie has served as Johnson Hullabaloo chair, JES and HMS school-based council member, PTO member and parent representative on various district committees.  She currently works as Secondary Teaching and Learning Leader in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at Campbell County Schools. 

Julie is married to Chris Kuhnhein (Class of 95), whom she met at Centre College and followed back to Fort Thomas.  They have two children, John and Annie, students at Highlands Middle and Highlands High School.  Julie can often be found cheering on her daughter at dance competitions and her son at football games, reading or playing with her dogs, Lincoln and Louis. She is looking forward to applying her years of educational experience and perspective as a parent to serve the community and children of the Fort Thomas Independent School District. 

Title: Chair

Email: Ann.Meyer@fortthomas.kyschools.us

Ann began her Board service January 2019. She graduated from Highlands High School in 1974, received her Bachelor of Science in Vocational Home Economics from University of Kentucky, completed her Master of Arts at Miami University and Rank I in counseling from Xavier University. Ann came to Highlands in 1988 after teaching at Holmes High School and working as a manufacturer’s representative in the housewares industry. She retired from Highlands in 2015 after serving as Family and Consumer Science teacher and then junior and senior counselor. While at Highlands, Ann served as department chair and on many school improvement and site-based committees. When she retired, she served as a member of the Fort Thomas Education Foundation and chair of the Highlands Alumni Committee. Ann’s husband, Frank, is a manufacturer’s representative, consultant and small business owner. She has three children who are Highlands graduates; Amy Shaffer (HHS class of 1991), Katie Meyer (HHS class of 2008), and Mitchell (HHS class of 2012). Her three grandchildren - JP, Lyla, and Emma Claire Shaffer - attend Johnson Elementary. In her spare time, Ann enjoys spending time with family and traveling.