Her most recent position from which she retired earlier this year was the Schools/Community Relations and Community Education Director for the Boone County Schools, the third largest and fastest growing district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She was responsible for marketing and communication efforts to engage all stakeholders in partnership with Boone County Schools in Achieving Excellence Together. Reporting directly to the superintendent of the county school district, she oversaw communications, public and community relations, media, legislative and event functions as well as directed efforts to engage parents, decrease summer learning loss and promote service and life-long learning. Her promotion of individual and district successes has yielded her district a plethora of awards and recognition venues ranging from the classroom to the national level.

In charge of strategic planning and implementation for major events, Walton also guided Boone.s ongoing efforts to identify, cultivate and strengthen relationships with key constituents of the district and provided communication counsel to the organization.s administration and staff on district initiatives and issues.

The chief architect of the district.s model legislative efforts, she was instrumental in the related grassroots roll-out of the Northern Kentucky Education Action Team. Passionate about the significance of the Boone County Education Foundation to the students of Boone County, she contributed to all aspects of The Foundation, including fundraising, marketing and communications. An accomplished fundraiser, her bold approach and enthusiasm have resulted in unprecedented district efforts in The Foundation.s Math Uniting Science and Technology, United Way and Fine Arts Fund campaigns. A big believer in community and community partnerships, Walton has been an outspoken advocate for BEST, Northern Kentucky Chamber.s Business Education Success Team imitative. Her diligence within the Boone schools attracted the attention of the chamber and garnered a three-year chairmanship of the BEST Committee. This role gave her the opportunity to implement successful partnership strategies throughout the region and highlight best practices.

Other positions she held during her 27 years with the Boone schools were Achievement Gap Coordinator, Gifted Resource Specialist and Middle School Science Department Head. Her passion for life-long learning is reflected in the award-winning community education program she directed, featuring the state.s first on-line registration, with a mission to expand the role of schools beyond the normal school day to provide a broad spectrum of life-long learning opportunities for stakeholders at all ages.

Walton earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY and a Master.s degree in Elementary Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, where her studies continued, earning Gifted Education, Supervision of Instruction and Principal.s Certification.

Her professional involvement has resulted in an impressive history of achievements. She is recognized for her success as a presenter/trainer for the National Science Teachers Association, National Community Education Association, Nation Association of Gifted Children, Kentucky Association of Gifted Education, Kentucky Community Education Association, Kentucky School Public Relations Association, Kentucky Association of Educational Office Professionals and Kentucky Association of School Administrators. She was an Ashland Old Golden Apple Award recipient and served as a member of the Governor.s Advisory Council for Gifted Education. She was recognized as a Commonwealth of Kentucky Credentialed Community Education Director for documentation, demonstration and articulations of her competencies as a community education professional. In 2011, she received the Robert J. Storer/Toyota Business Education Collaboration Award from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Her greatest honor is being the mother of two children, Le and Josh. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she and her husband of 35 years, Charlie, enjoy time with family and friends, traveling and volunteering with various ministries at church.