Kentucky School Advocate

April 2024

Patricia Sheffer, the first female superintendent of Union County Schools and longest serving, will retire at the end of the school year. 

Sheffer spent 31 years working in the district, the last 13 years as superintendent. Sheffer was named the Kentucky 2021 Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

“It has been an absolute blessing and honor to serve as your superintendent,” Sheffer said. “Working alongside each of you to inspire the champion within has been the highlight of my career.”

In her resignation letter to the board, Sheffer said she plans to spend more time with her grandchildren. 

“They are the driving force behind my decision to remain invested in education and, who knows, I may even contemplate running for a seat on the board of education in the future.” 

Sheffer said she would also continue to advocate for public education including working to address staff shortages and increase funding.  

The board is working with KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service Consultant Quin Sutton to help it hire a new superintendent. Sheffer said the goal was to have her replacement selected by May 1. 

“I pray that the board selects a superintendent who will operate from strong core values, prioritize the best interests of our students and continue to enhance student opportunities,” she said. 

Shelby County Superintendent Sally Sugg announced her retirement in February and just days later began treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

After Sugg announced her cancer diagnosis, the district on March 15 held a bone marrow registry and blood drive to support her. 

“I have a peace about the diagnosis,” she told WDRB-TV. “I have a very strong faith and I know that God is with me, and He is a lot bigger than cancer.”

Sugg has spent more than 40 years working in public education, starting as a teacher.  She served as a principal in both Henderson and McCracken counties, and was then selected to be a Highly Skilled Educator at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to work with low-performing schools and districts. She then became assistant superintendent of Shelby County Schools before returning to KDE as an associate commissioner. 

Returning to Henderson, Sugg was recruited to lead the high school where she attended and taught. Sugg then retired and served a four-year term on the local school board while she taught at Murray State University and the University of the Cumberlands, and served as interim superintendent of West Point Independent before the district closed. 

Sugg became superintendent during the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020. 

The board has begun the process of hiring a new superintendent with the help of KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service Consultant Don Martin and hopes to have the person selected by the end of May. 

Mayfield Independent Superintendent Joe Henderson has announced he will retire at the end of the school year. Henderson has led the district since 2015. 

In 2022, Henderson guided the district through the recovery from devastating tornadoes in December 2021 that killed 77 people and destroyed much of the town. 

On the night of the storm, Henderson later recalled there were up to 200 community members who sought refuge in Mayfield High School’s gymnasium which also served as a triage center. Later, the gymnasium was packed with donated supplies and served as a hub for the community.

The district’s bus garage and buses were destroyed. 

Henderson first came to the district in 2001 as a physical education/health instructor and assistant football coach. He served as principal of Mayfield Middle School before becoming assistant superintendent and director of instructional programs in 2008.  

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Arts in School Administration from Murray State University and received his Rank I in the area of Superintendent/DPP/Instructional Supervisor in 2007. 

After 13 years as superintendent, Bo Matthews has announced he will retire from Barren County Schools at the end of the school year.

“It’s a bittersweet time for me,” said Matthews, who has worked at the district for 33 years. “I truly enjoyed the time I’ve spent serving and working in the Barren County school district.” 

Prior to becoming superintendent, Matthews served as a teacher, bus driver, elementary school principal and director of pupil personnel.  

Matthews expressed his deep gratitude to the board and the Barren County community for the support he received as superintendent. 

“I have done nothing on my own. When accolades come my way, I sing the praises and shine a light on those around me,” he said.  “As I have said many times, we have programs and facilities that are second to none but, more than anything else, our greatest strength is our people. This team loves one another and loves those that we serve.” 

The board has begun working with KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service Consultant Tim Eaton to help the district select a new superintendent.

“Every board member has a heart for Barren County Schools, and I know their decisions will be guided by a desire to best serve our students and staff,” Matthews said. “They will be deliberate, diligent and prayerful in finding the best person to lead the district.”

The Marshall County school board decided not to renew its contract with Superintendent Steve Miracle. Miracle has been superintendent in the district for three years and will serve until the end of the school year. 

The contract was on the agenda of a Feb. 8 meeting during which none of the board members made a motion to extend Miracle’s contract. Board of Education Chairman Randy Travis said during the meeting that the vote was taken early so that Miracle could seek other employment and the board could begin to work on filling the role. 

“We hope we get some good candidates from all over the place. You know, we’d like to get some that’s close to home. So, you know, that will move their family here,” Travis recently told reporters. 

Miracle, who was hired in 2021, told the Tribune Courier that he wasn’t surprised by the decision. 

“I pretty much have known since April of 2022 that that would probably be the direction that the board would take at the end of my term,” Miracle said. He claimed that the board tried to intimidate him in personnel decisions. The board has denied those allegations. 

The board is working with KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service Consultant Quin Sutton to help the board hire a new leader. 

The search is underway for a new superintendent for Jessamine County Schools. Superintendent Matt Moore has announced he will retire at the end of the school year.

Moore, who spent his entire 32-year career at Jessamine County, was hired as superintendent in 2017. When his contract expired in June 2021, the board extended the contract. 

In addition to superintendent, Moore also served as deputy superintendent and director of special programs. He started as an elementary and high school teacher and also served as the varsity soccer coach. 

Originally from Henderson, Moore served in the Army Reserves and Kentucky National Guard from 1985 to 2008. 

Board Chairman Steven Scrivner said the board had mixed emotions at the announcement “because of the mark he’s made on our district.” 

“But we know this is a well-deserved transition that I’m sure will include a lot more time fishing and traveling with his wife,” he said. “So please join us in expressing heartfelt gratitude for his invaluable contributions to the success of our school district and wishing him well as he winds down his career in Jessamine County.” 

KSBA’s Superintendent Search Consultant Tim Eaton will lead the search for his replacement. The board recently held two public forums to gather input on a new superintendent from the community.

Ludlow Independent Schools Superintendent Mike Borchers will retire at the end of the school year.

“It has been an honor to be the superintendent of the Ludlow Independent School District for the past 13 years,” Borchers said. “Having spent my entire 29 years at Ludlow, I know and understand the vital role the school plays in the success of our community.” 

The district is currently undergoing a $31 million dollar renovation project including updates to the cafeteria and classrooms, and creating STEM space. 

“As the construction project progresses through the next year, I know that our students will finally have the state-of-the-art facilities to match the word class education they receive on a daily basis,” Borchers said. 

In addition to superintendent, Borchers has served the district as a math teacher, middle school principal, high school principal and director of curriculum. He has also served on the Local Superintendents Advisory Council. 

Borchers earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Northern Kentucky University, a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Cincinnati and his superintendent certificate from Xavier University. 

“With the support of the board, staff and community, we have accomplished great things over the past 13 years and set the stage for a bright future for every student who attends Ludlow Schools in the future,” he said. 

The board is working with KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service Consultant Don Martin to help the district find its next superintendent.