Holliday served as the Commissioner of Education for the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 2009-2015. During his tenure, the state was recognized as a leader in implementing college and career ready standards, assessments, and accountability. Kentucky was cited as a model for strategic planning and stakeholder communication strategies by numerous national organizations during Holliday’s tenure. Kentucky high school graduates showed significant improvements in graduation rates and college and career ready rates during Holliday’s tenure. Holliday was recognized by the National Association of State Boards of Education as the 2014 Policy Leader of the Year, by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as the 2015 James Kelly award recipient, and by the Association of Career and Technical Educators as the 2015 National Champion of the Year. Holliday is a well know speaker and has presented to audiences in over 30 states on topics ranging from career readiness, school accountability, school turnaround, continuous improvement, and academic standards.

Holliday served as the board chair for the National Professional Teaching Standards Board from 2015-2021, and currently serves as a board member for the NC Center for Advancement of Teaching, and digiLearn.

Prior to serving in Kentucky, Holliday served as superintendent of the more than 20,000-student Iredell-Statesville school district from 2002 until 2009. During his tenure, he received recognition in a variety of areas, including being named 2009 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. Under his leadership, the Iredell-Statesville school district received the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which was created by an act of Congress in 1987 to recognize companies, organizations, businesses, and other entities that have shown long-term improvement in quality and productivity.

Holliday’s previous experience included serving as a local superintendent, principal, and teacher in North and South Carolina. Holliday served as president of the board for the Council of Chief State School Officers in 2014. Holliday served a four-year term as a member of the National Assessment Governing Board and served as a member of the Baldrige Board of Overseers.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University, a master’s degree and education specialist degree from Winthrop University, and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina.