From there, the ceremony shifted to the public swearing in of Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman.

The former teacher and basketball coach talked about Kentucky's recent economic success.

But she says you can't have good jobs without good schools.

Yes, our economy is booming, but we cannot lose sight that the future of Kentucky's economy is in our classrooms today.

Thank you to the educators who helped lead our parade today.

Just as you lead your communities every day, we cannot continue as the second best state in economic development if we remain 40th in teacher pay.

We will not stay.

Number three in rural job creation.

If we continue to underfund the largest employer in every rural community and that is their public school, from cradle to career education is the key that unlocks doors for every Kentuckian.

And here is a perfect example.

Once we waived the GED testing the over 8000 Kentuckians improve their education to get a job that was once out of reach.

So now let's turn to the opposite end of the spectrum.

Our littlest learners.

We cannot continue this historic momentum if our children's zip code determines their place in the world.

By the first day of kindergarten.

Now, that might sound hyperbolic.

The follow me here.

Prison populations are projected by third grade literacy rates.

Third grade literacy rates are projected by kindergarten readiness, and kindergarten readiness is projected by access to pre-K, quite literally.

We can invest in young people on the front end.

Or we will pay for it on the back end.

The time for universal pre-K in Kentucky is now.

Our Education First administration chose an inaugural theme like Forward Together for a reason.

Because that's the kind of Kentucky our kids deserve.

And that is the kind of leadership voters asked for.

I pledge to you, Kentucky, that we will continue to show up and extend our hand in the name of putting people over politics.

That Governor Bashir and I will continue to set an example of decency and kindness that you can be proud of.

And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in us, because we will never stop believing in you.

God bless you.

And may God continue to bless the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Since the adoption.

Following her speech, the lieutenant governor took the oath of office for a second time today, this time outside on the steps of the Capitol and in front of a large crowd.

In this state.

And we're out of it.