Kentucky School Advocate

November 2024

The Madison County Board of Education has hired Randy Neeley, a longtime district veteran, as its next superintendent. Neeley, currently deputy superintendent, has worked in the district since 1994. 

Neeley, who graduated from Madison Central High School, has also served as chief operating officer, director of Pupil Personnel and twice as interim superintendent. 

He will begin his new role on Jan. 1 after current Superintendent David Gilliam retires. Neeley said Gilliam has been a phenomenal leader for the district. 

“I am very honored and humbled to follow him in this leadership role,” he said. “I am also honored and humbled to lead this district after spending the majority of my life here – as an alum and an employee. I am just so glad to be here. Jan. 1, we’ll be ready to go.” 

In addition to his central office roles, Neeley has been a teacher, assistant middle school principal and head elementary school principal in the district. 

He has a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and his Rank I in educational and instructional leadership, all from Eastern Kentucky University. 

Anchorage Independent

Karen Solise retired as superintendent of Anchorage Independent in September. Solise served one year in the district after serving for five years as assistant superintendent of Trigg County Schools. 

“Although we are saddened that our time with Ms. Solise is cut short, we know the seeds she planted during her tenure by taking a team to the Ron Clark Academy, intentionally growing excitement and positivity amongst students, focusing on high school readiness through electives, and taking steps toward creating an innovation lab will continue to bear fruit for our current and future students,” the board said in a newsletter. 

The board has hired Sharla Six to serve as the interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year. Six is a veteran Kentucky educator who served as deputy superintendent of Oldham County schools from 2022 to 2024. She also worked as deputy superintendent in the 2021-22 school year and assistant superintendent from 2016 to 2021 at Franklin County Schools. 

Burgin Independent Superintendent Will Begley has announced he will retire at the end of the school year. Begley, who has had a 33-year career in public education, has served as superintendent for eight years. 

During his tenure, the district completed major facility improvements and gains in student achievement, he said. 

“We have accomplished a lot. During this time, our facilities have seen major upgrades, and our district continues to rank among the best Kentucky public school districts in Kentucky. This has helped us reach record student enrollment. Together, we have done what is best for kids and moved the needle for our community of learners.” 

Begley said he is also proud of how his district is able to personalize instruction based on students’ needs. 

“This doesn’t happen by itself. This is a direct result of the hard work of our dedicated school board, administrators, teachers, and all our staff for their efforts and teamwork, I sincerely thank each of them,” he said. 

Prior to coming to Burgin Independent, Begley served as principal of the Kentucky School for the Deaf, taught in the former Harrodsburg Independent Schools and was assistant principal of Boyle County High School. 

Oldham County Schools superintendent Jason Radford has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the school year.

In a letter to staff and parents, Radford said he has asked the board not to renew his contract when it expires on June 30, 2025, saying it was “time for me to turn the page to the next chapter,” after 27 years in education.

“This has been a difficult decision because, like all of you, I truly love our district, our students, our staff and our community,” Radford wrote. “I can honestly say I have put my heart and soul into our district. When I began as superintendent, our teachers and staff all indicated to me their desire to be valued and treated like professionals. My hope is that our employees and community can see the progress we have made … together, in these areas.”

Radford was hired as superintendent in 2021. 

In his letter, he cited accomplishments during his time in office, such as navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as increasing pay for employees and an increase in student test scores.

Taylor County Schools Superintendent Charles Higdon has announced he will retire at the end of the school year. 

Higdon has been superintendent of the district since 2018. He previously served as assistant superintendent and has worked in the district since 2005 when he became principal of Taylor County High School.  

A statement from the district said that during his tenure, Higdon led by example while implementing daily the shared mission of Taylor County Schools: "At Taylor County Schools, we set high expectations and work together to help all students succeed." 

The board is working with KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service to facilitate hiring a new superintendent. 

Woodford County Superintendent Danny Adkins has announced that he will retire at the end of the school year. 

“As I look back on my career, I am filled with gratitude for the students, parents, colleagues, and community members who have been part of this journey,” Adkins said in a letter to the district. “Together, we have built a new high school, navigated changes, embraced innovations, and celebrated many successes. It is the people I’ve worked alongside, including the staff who tirelessly support our students, the parents who trust us with their children, and the students themselves who remind me why we do this work, that I will miss the most.” 

Adkins has served in public education for 30 years in roles from bus driver to superintendent. He served as superintendent of Floyd County Schools before coming to Woodford County in 2021. 

“I leave knowing the district has a strong foundation in place and a vision for the future that continues to prioritize the growth and wellbeing of every Woodford County student,” he said. “It has been an honor to contribute to this mission and to witness the progress we have made together.”