Former longtime school board member Ann Elmore dies at 85

Elmore served four terms on the Jefferson County Board of Education before retiring in 2010. She was previously a JCPS teacher and administrator for several decades 

By Toni Konz Tatman | JCPS Communications

Ann Elmore is sworn in as a member of the Board of Education in January 2007

Ann Elmore, a former teacher, administrator and longtime member of the Jefferson County Board of Education, died Tuesday at 85.

“I don’t know that I ever saw anyone who had as much passion and joy about the work she did than my mother,” said Ronn Elmore, one of her four sons, in an interview with the district on Wednesday. “As much as she loved teaching, it was her work on the school board—an unpaid position—that she was the most proud of. She talked about it all the way up until she died.”

Elmore was originally hired by the Louisville Public Schools (former city district) in 1958. She worked primarily as a high school English teacher over the next 20 years, with additional service as a librarian. Most or all of her service as a teacher was at Shawnee High School.

She was promoted to administrator in Jefferson County Public Schools (the merged district) in 1978 and served 14 years as an instructional coordinator, director and administrator with Chapter II (it would later become Title II). Elmore retired from JCPS in 1992.

A year later, she was elected to represent District 1, which includes most of downtown and western Louisville. She took office in January 1994 and served on the board for 16 years. 

She announced her intention to retire in 2010, intending to serve until her term expired at the end of the year, but decided to retire on an earlier schedule due to personal reasons and she resigned her seat in April 2010. Soon after, she moved to Atlanta, where she continued to live until her passing. 

Diane Porter was appointed by then-Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to fill Elmore’s seat on the school board. She was later elected and continues to serve District 1.

“Mrs. Elmore was always a fantastic mentor during my career with JCPS and as a school board member,” Porter said Wednesday. “Prior to my running for office, she gave me a lot of advice and encouragement. It was an honor and a privilege to know her.”

Porter added: “As a district, we are all very grateful for all the contributions she made to our schools and for our children.”

Elmore was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. A.J. Elmore. She is survived by her four sons, Alvin Jr. of Chicago; Ronald Elmore of Cape Town, South Africa; Gordon Elmore of Baltimore and Larry Elmore of Atlanta. She also had eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A wake for Ann Elmore will be held from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. on October 20 at Oakland Baptist Church, 1226 Algonquin Parkway. Her funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. the following day at First Gethsamane Baptist Church, 1159 Algonquin Parkway.