The Knox County Board of Education conducted their last meeting of the 2022-2023 school year on Thursday night, June 15. The final item of business was the annual evaluation of the superintendent.
In a unanimous vote, the Board approved Superintendent Jeremy Ledford’s evaluation with exemplary ratings in each of seven standards of leadership for school superintendents.
At the start of the meeting, Superintendent Ledford presented his monthly report to the board by providing an overview and reflection of the past year. The report was aligned with the seven standards. As Ledford pointed out, the list is not all-inclusive but gave the Board a snapshot of actions that align with the standards.
“I want to thank all of KCPS for always putting kids first, our community for never wavering with a helping hand, and you [Board] for always making the best decisions that invest in our kids, schools and community,” said Ledford.
Highlights of his report include:
Strategic Leadership
On-going monitoring and implementation of the district’s comprehensive improvement plan of aligning resources to most needed areas of improvement. Monthly school presentations by principals to the Board and district level program and service updates. Aligning decisions and actions with the goal of #kcpsTOP10 and the district’s mission of Believe, Achieve, and Succeed.
Instructional Leadership
Research-based best practices for the planning and delivery of instruction including training on Kagan cooperative learning strategies and multi-tiered support for interventions. The district hired additional staff, including veteran teachers, to return to schools to provide support. Each school reports quarterly to the district leadership team on progress made towards improvement goals.
Cultural Leadership
Shaping the culture and climate of the district to believe and achieve at high levels. This includes over fifty stakeholders participating in the district’s improvement planning meeting. Through attendance at school and community events to promote that KCPS can become a top 10% performing school district.
Human Resource Leadership
The Board of Education approved the alignment of all salary schedules to 25+ years of experience to retain employees with knowledge and experience. Improvements to the maintenance salary schedule allow the department to grow their own experts through tiers based on certification.
Managerial Leadership
Knox County has seen many construction related projects in the past year, including a sewage treatment plant at Flat Lick, a roof project at Lynn Camp, completion of turf at the high school football fields, track projects, HVAC improvements, and the moving of Day Treatment from the Knox County Middle new gymnasium to make room for 6th grade.
Collaborative Leadership
Many community organizations, government officials, and businesses play an important role in Knox County Public Schools. During the past year those have included Barbourville, Knox County and Kentucky elected officials, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Knox County Health Department, Barbourville Tourism, First Priority, and the Chamber of Commerce. Members of the community served as guest readers for students and students gave Hot Wheels to Shriners kids in need.
Influential Leadership
Like collaborative leadership, influential leadership also includes legal and governance of public education. Through leadership opportunities for superintendents including KEDC and SESC educational cooperatives, Kentucky School Boards Association, Kentucky Association of School Superintendents and Kentucky Association of School Administrators, the superintendent and Board have met with elected officials regarding house and senate bills now in effect or going into effect for next school year.
Superintendent Ledford concluded by saying, “Our goal and vision for the district is to be top performing. By improving in all areas, our students will gain the educational opportunities they need to be successful and our community to be successful.
“I am excited for what the future holds for KCPS. Let’s believe, achieve, and succeed.”