Boards hire new leaders

Kentucky School Advocate
May 2020

By Brenna R. Kelly
Staff writer

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Kentucky school boards must continue to do their work, and for some districts that means making perhaps the most important decision a school can make – hiring a superintendent. 

At least four school districts have recently chosen new leaders for their districts with many more hoping to have a new superintendent in place before July 1. Here are some of the most recent hires: 

Metcalfe County
The Metcalfe County Board of Education in a unanimous April 14 vote named Josh Hurt as superintendent. Hurt succeeds Benny Lile who is retiring. 

“I know I speak for the entire board when I say we believe he is the right person to continue and build on the positive aspects of our schools,” said Joey Shive, board chairman. 

Hurt is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and the University of the Cumberlands. He has 23 years of experience in education, the past six years at Metcalfe County Schools. Before coming to Metcalfe County, Hurt taught in Monroe, Gallatin and Meade Counties.

“I don’t take the responsibility of the job lightly, and I look forward to serving the students, staff and citizens of our community,” Hurt said. “My goal is to be able to continue the outstanding work our schools do and to further our mission to serve each and every student in a way that allows him or her to find a path to success and purpose.” 

Bell County
The Bell County Board of Education hired acting superintendent Tom Gambrel to fill the role permanently. Gambrel, who replaces Yvonne Gilliam, will officially begin on July 1.

“I am very honored and very humbled by it. I appreciate the board for having confidence in me to operate our school district and move forward,” Gambrel told the Pineville Sun. 

Board chairwoman Eulene Brock said that Gambrel has shown leadership while serving as interim superintendent during the coronavirus crisis.

“I think he’s handled himself very well. He has sat in this chair and I think he has been an asset to the board of education. I trust that he’ll do a good job,” she told the newspaper. 

Mike Hatfield said he liked that Gambrel wants to take the district in a bit of a different direction.

“He wants us to start publicizing our schools more and just reach out to more people than we have been as the superintendent,” he told the Sun.

Owensboro Independent
The Owensboro Independent Board of Education on March 26 selected Matthew Constant to replace Nick Brake who resigned last year. Constant served as an assistant superintendent and chief academic officer at Owensboro Independent before assuming the interim superintendent role. Constant worked as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Daviess County Schools before joining Owensboro in 2011.

“It was clear he was the man for the job based on his leadership during these extraordinary times. Confidence in his abilities has been shared by district staff and parents since he took over in January,” said Jeremy Edge, board chairman.

Constant commended his district’s staff for adapting during the coronavirus crisis. 

“Given this time of uncertainty, our absolutely second-to-none staff has risen to the occasion and are even more unified on our sole mission of changing kids’ and families’ lives for the better,” he said. “Our future is bright because we live in such a supportive community where all of us rally around the strength of our diversity and appreciate the innovative programming we offer.”  

Newport Independent
Tony Watts, is returning to Newport, this time as superintendent. The Newport Independent board voted unanimously on March 4 to hire Watts, a former principal of Newport High School. Watts, who had been chief of schools overseeing five middle schools for Fayette County Schools, will replace Kelly Middleton, who is retiring. 

“I am excited to be coming back, especially as superintendent,” Watts said. “I wanted the experience of working in a large district with a lot of diversity to help me prepare to work as a superintendent, so this opportunity has panned out just as I had hoped.”

In addition to Newport and Fayette County, Watts has also worked in in Boone County, Covington Independent and in Dayton Independent as an Education Recovery Leader for the Kentucky Department of Education.

“He has passion, integrity, experience and is a proven and successful leader,” said Ramona Malone, board chairwoman. “He knows our district and our community from his time here, sees the opportunities we have, understands and is ready to confront the challenges we face, and is prepared to lead our district so that all of our students have the chances they deserve.”