2015 is about to rack up another retirement of a familiar face on the state’s education leadership landscape.
KSBA Associate Executive Director David Baird has announced his plans to retire from his position after a decade that included nearly a year-and-a-half leading the association as its interim chief executive.
Baird joins Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday, Education Professional Standards Board Executive Director Robert Brown and Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Executive Director Stu Silberman on the list of education leaders who have decided to retire this year. For Baird, the decision marks his second entry into retirement, having first retired as superintendent of the Eminence Independent Schools in 2005, after accepting the post with KSBA.
“It has been a wonderful ten years and I am so grateful for the opportunity,” Baird said in his official notice letter to KSBA Executive Director Mike Armstrong.
“I have met and worked with literally hundreds of committed school board members all across the state of Kentucky who reinforce every day the mission and vision of a high quality education for the children of this commonwealth. We are truly fortunate to have such an opportunity to work in this educational community and help plan and direct the focus for education in Kentucky. I commend KSBA for their resilience to meet challenging times in the past several years and truly develop into a stronger value-added, customer-driven organization where we meet the needs of all board members in Kentucky.”
Named Kentucky’s Superintendent of the Year in 2005 during his 16th year leading the Eminence Independent district, Baird also taught and coached in Carroll County Schools. He currently serves on the Kentucky School Facilities Construction Commission.
Armstrong praised Baird for his leadership during his time with KSBA, including his work as a member of the association’s legislative lobbying efforts.
“David is the quintessential embodiment of the practice of service leadership. Building on his years of experiences working in public schools, he then brought those practiced skills and know-hows to KSBA,” Armstrong said. “He has committed these past 10 years to promoting public education while continuously fostering the benefits of a team leadership approach – the team of the local board of education and their superintendent. David will be forever remembered as a sound, sensible and service-oriented leader.”
Armstrong said he has begun discussing Baird’s retirement plans with KSBA President Allen Kennedy of Hancock County and President Elect David Webster of Simpson County. He said he hopes to have a plan of action to discuss with the full KSBA Board of Directors at its next meeting in September.