Kentucky School Advocate
August 2023
As the new school year begins, there will be at least 20 new leaders in Kentucky school districts. While some will be interim superintendents, others have taken the job permanently. Here are some of the recently hired superintendents.
Adair County
The Adair County School Board voted unanimously to hire Jason Faulkner as the new superintendent.
Faulkner had served as director of Assessment and Accountability and Elementary Instruction for Laurel County Schools.
“You all have an amazing district and I have a lot of ideas for innovation so I am extremely excited to begin this chapter,” Faulker said at the meeting introducing him to the district.
Board members Troy Grider, Destiny Greer, Dana King, Terry Harvey and Chairman David Karnes said they’d made the best choice and pledged their full support, according to Columbia Magazine.
Faulkner has a bachelor’s degree from University of the Cumberlands and a master’s degree from Union College.
McCreary County
The McCreary County school board hired Brian Crawford as the district’s next superintendent. Crawford is a 30-year veteran of education with most of his career spent in Bell County Schools.
Crawford began as a bus driver and instructional assistant at the alternative school in Bell County. He spent four years each teaching at Bell County High School and Middlesboro High School.
He served as Middlesboro Middle School assistant principal before returning to Bell County Schools where he served as principal of Lone Jack School Center, transforming that school from one of the lowest performing schools in the state to ranking in the top quarter of the state’s elementary schools.
For the past five years he has been principal of Bell County High School.
“I am very excited to see what this next chapter holds for the future of McCreary County Schools,” he said. “I plan on continuing to build on the great traditions they have here and hopefully push this district forward to state notoriety.”
Lincoln County
The Lincoln County school board did not have to look far to find a new superintendent. The board hired former school board chairman Bruce Smith as the district’s new leader.
Smith worked for the district for 29 years before retiring in 2017. He was a classroom teacher and district administrator, including director of Pupil Personnel, director of Student Information Systems, director of School Nutrition and contact for Family Resource and Youth Service Centers.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Kentucky University and a master’s degree in education from EKU before obtaining his Rank 1 and certificates for superintendent, instructional leadership, pupil personnel and middle school principal.
Smith joined the school board in November 2019 and served until he resigned in March.
Trimble County
The Trimble County Board of Education has hired Todd Neace as superintendent. Neace worked for 25 years at Bath County Schools where he served as director of Continuous Instructional Improvement, middle school principal and principal of alternative programs. He was also a social studies teacher in Nicholas County Schools for four years before moving into administration.
Neace earned both a bachelor’s degree in teaching and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Morehead State University.
In 2020, Neace ran as a Democrat for state representative for the 72nd district. He lost to Republican Matthew Koch.
In a Facebook post, the district said Neace was “looking forward to meeting the community, parents, staff and students.”
Rowan County
The Rowan County Board of Education has hired former Lincoln County Superintendent Michael Rowe as the district’s next leader.
Board chairman Rick Whelan told the Rowan County News that even though the search process took longer than anticipated, the board was happy with its new hire.
“We have done our due diligence and I feel we have located the right person for this time to be our superintendent,” he said.
Rowe had served as superintendent of Lincoln County Schools for seven years. He has also served as a high school, junior high, elementary and alternative school principal. Rowe has also worked for the Kentucky Department of Education.
At the board meeting when he was hired, Rowe said he was excited to begin his new role.
“I’m very excited to be here,” he said. “I look forward to meeting everybody, and my goal is to be on the ground July 1, out meeting people and getting your input on things.”
Spencer County
The Spencer County school board hired Willie Foster as the next superintendent. Foster was previously principal of Jefferson County Schools’ Male High School. Foster, who has been an educator for 24 years, also served as an assistant superintendent in Oldham County. He has also been a teacher, assistant coach, head coach, assistant principal and director.
Foster earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville in health and physical education. He went on to earn a Master of Education degree in special education as well as school administration certification while at the University of Louisville. In 2015, Foster completed a Kentucky superintendent certification and, in 2018, completed his doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of the Cumberlands.
Foster has spent nine years as a classroom teacher, 11 years as a school administrator and four years as a district administrator.
Fulton Independent
The Fulton Independent school board has hired Jeff Rogers as superintendent. Rogers had been principal of the district’s middle and high school this past school year.
Rogers, a graduate of Ballard Memorial High School, came to western Kentucky in 2022 after working as a district administrator in Spencer County.
When he was hired as principal at Fulton Independent, Rogers noted that his parents reside in Murray, so coming to western Kentucky was an easy decision. Rogers is the son of former Murray Independent Superintendent Bob Rogers and former Murray Independent school board member Gayle Rogers.
Rogers has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Murray State University, a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University.
“I’m very excited to be here in western Kentucky, it’s home to me,” Rogers said in 2022, when was hired as Fulton’s principal.
In addition to his education experience, Rogers was head basketball coach of Berry College in Georgia and Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Ky.
Elliott County
The Elliott County school board has hired Michael Melton, a 27-year educator, as the district’s superintendent. Melton was previously the director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) at Bath County Schools.
Melton started his career at Letcher County Schools and spent 25 years there. He served as social studies teacher, high school assistant principal and K-8 elementary principal. In 2021, he became the director of Transportation, Maintenance and Facilities for Bath County Schools. He became DPP in 2022, where he directed safe schools, counseling services, FRYSC, health services and extended school services. He also served as the district athletic administrator.
Melton has driven a school bus for more than 20 years and is a bus driver trainer. He received a bachelor’s degree from Alice Lloyd College, a master’s degree from Morehead State University, a masters in school administration/principalship from Union College and earned his doctorate of educational leadership from Morehead State.
“I would like to thank the Elliott County Board of Education with their trust and confidence in me to serve as their next superintendent of schools,” Melton said in a Facebook post. “I am looking forward to serving the Elliott County Schools family to the very best of my ability. Together we are going to do great things for our kids!”
Elizabethtown Independent
The Elizabethtown Independent Board of Education selected Paul M. Mullins, a 1983 Elizabethtown High School alumnus, as the district’s new superintendent. Mullins had been superintendent of Logan County Schools for the past seven years.
Mullins was named Superintendent of the Year for the Kentucky Educational Development Cooperative in 2022.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul back to Elizabethtown,” said board chair Guy Wallace. “He has experienced and navigated the responsibilities required by this role with proven leadership. He not only understands this district but will identify and meet the needs of district administration across the board with an experienced perspective.”
Mullins has also served as superintendent Garrard County Schools, principal of LaRue County and Caverna high schools, and Lewisburg Elementary and Middle School.
He taught in both Elizabethtown Independent Schools and Hardin County Schools.
“I want to give back to the school district and community that gave so much to me," Mullins said. “I can’t think of any greater honor than to lead Elizabethtown Independent Schools at this time. I believe my experience in other districts have prepared me for this moment in time to lead the district and meet the needs and expectations of this community.”