EduCon 2.5

Julie Pile first became engaged in her children’s school when her daughter was in kindergarten. The PTA was looking for help with their website. She had just completed an overhaul of her employer’s website and felt she could contribute her talents.Being a full-time working mom and considering the PTA website could be done outside of school hours, it was a way she could help without being physically present at the school. Through those first years of attending PTA meetings, she felt she was not part of the “in crowd” and was sure other parents felt the same. She was determined to make a difference and make it so that all parents/families felt welcomed at family engagement functions. Eventually she became President of the PTA and at the same time was invited to participate in a program sponsored by the The Prichard Committee for Educational Excellence called The Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. This program gave her the knowledge and tools to start working even more closely with her children’s schools.

After many years of advocating for stakeholder voices to be at the education table, in March of 2024, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce named as an Outstanding Woman of Northern Kentucky with the special distinction of the Helen Carroll Champion for Education. In May of 2023, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appointed Julie to the Kentucky State Board of Education. She previously served on the Boone County School Board in 2018 where she served as chair in 2022. Following completion of her local school board service, she was recognized by the Northern Kentucky Education Council when she was named the Robert J. Storer, Business/Education Champion of the Year. Prior to being on the local school board, she served as the first Parent Ambassador in the Boone County School System. Also in 2018, she was named to the inaugural class of the EdTrust Fund Parent Fellowship class. In 2017, Julie was named the inaugural recipient of the Beverly Nickels Raimondo Kentucky Parent Leadership Award, which is named after the founder of the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. In 2015 she was recognized as the Bammy Award People’s Choice Parent Leadership recipient. She has served in multiple PTA positions, including Vice President of Communications for the Kentucky State PTA and President of local chapters.