(Feb. 24, 2021) KSBA Staff Attorney John Fogle has announced he plans to retire on May 17, following KSBA’s 2021 Annual Conference. Having served as KSBA’s attorney for 15 years, Fogle is considered one the Commonwealth’s most knowledgeable school law experts. That wisdom, combined with his trademark wit, has won him the admiration and respect of districts throughout Kentucky.

Fogle attended Transylvania University in Lexington where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and pre-law, later enrolling in the University of Kentucky College of Law. After passing the bar in 1988 (just two years prior to the passage of the transformational Kentucky Education Reform Act), he practiced with Bryan, Fogle and Chenoweth and the Chenoweth Law Office for 17 years. In 2005, John Fogle was named staff attorney for the Kentucky School Boards Association.

His interest in school law, and his aptitude for its practice, were seemingly predestined.

“I was very privileged as a law student to gear my coursework toward subject areas that intersected with school law and even more privileged to later be mentored by my father and other eminent school law attorneys such as Bob Chenoweth,” Fogle said.

KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling said that the shoes left behind by Fogle will be hard to fill.

“John’s knowledge of Kentucky school law and regulation is second to none and I am grateful to have had his wise council. Among school board attorneys, John Fogle is an institution,” she said. “His contributions to both the association and to the thousands of public school board teams KSBA served during his time are really incalculable”.

Despite his acclaim among colleagues, Fogle never sought the spotlight, only the opportunity to serve those in the daunting positions of school leadership.

“I am wired to be a behind-the-scenes person,” Fogle said. “When the KSBA staff attorney job opened up 15 years ago I jumped at the chance – thanks to Steve Kirby. From here I have been able to support community leaders willing to take on sometimes thankless – but ultimately rewarding – service as school board members.”  

KSBA President Davonna Page, a Russellville Ind. school board member, will not soon forget Fogle’s bedside manner.

“Whether he was presenting at a conference, addressing our board of directors, or taking part in a one-on-one conversation, John spoke of the law on our level,” she said. “He has a knack for boiling otherwise complex topics down to the essentials, doing so with warmth and humor and not an ounce of ego.”

Asked to reflect on his time at KSBA, Fogle held up two annual editions of Kentucky’s annotated school law book, one from the year he passed the bar and the other from 2019.  

“The latter is more than twice as large, and I would like think that I have played some role in helping KSBA, school leaders, colleagues and school law practitioners keep up with the ever-changing landscape,” he said.

“I’ve had the great pleasure of working with a skilled and very supportive leadership team here at KSBA throughout the years. It would be impossible to thank all those who have lent a hand along the way, so I’ll just say thanks to all for a great ride.”

The Kentucky School Boards Association will immediately begin an extensive search for a new staff attorney. The employment posting and job description can be found on KSBA’s website.