NOVEMBER 2025
A PUBLICATION OF THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
Finding the balance:
weighing needs and tax rates
2 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
Innovative, resilient schools paired with strong curriculum
create lasting value for students and the community.
DESIGNING SCHOOLS THAT SET DISTRICTS APART.
EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
TAKE NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PEOPLE ARE TALKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
BEYOND THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
EDUCATION BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
IN CONVERSATION WITH . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
IN MEMORIAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
VOLUME 32 | NUMBER 4
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Follow KSBA for education news, association updates, upcoming events and more
/company/ksba
ksba.org
9
Pre-K committee urges early
learning expansion
Gov. Andy Beshear’s Pre-K for All
Advisory Committee has released its
report, recommending a phased rollout
of expanded preschool access that gives
districts significant local decision-making
authority and allowing communities to
choose how to build capacity and partner
with existing providers.
11 KDE names Ky. Teacher of the Year
Michelle Gross, a Spencer County Schools
middle school mathematics teacher, has
been named the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of
the Year. With over 22 years of experience,
Gross’s approach emphasizes real-world
problem solving, student creativity and
community engagement. Read about her
and the two finalists.
12 Balancing act
Each fall, school boards weigh complex
factors when setting tax rates – from
revenue needs and rising costs to long-
term facility priorities. In some cases,
boards may opt for a rate subject to
recall, either a rate above the 4% rate or a
nickel facility tax. This year carries added
weight: it’s the final opportunity before
the upcoming budget session for districts
to pass a nickel tax and qualify for state
equalization funds.
17 Winter (Symposium) quickly
approaches
KSBA’s Winter Symposium will be held
Dec. 5-6 in Louisville with keynote
addresses by national and state leaders,
including state lawmakers. The conference
is also the last in-person training
opportunity for board members to earn
state-mandated training hours this year.
/KSBAnews
PG 9
@KSBAnews
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 3
PG 12
PG 11
Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Pamela Morehead,
President
Eminence Ind.
Jeremy Luckett,
President-elect
Owensboro Ind.
Karen Byrd,
Immediate Past President
Boone Co.
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
Hannah Barnes,
Anchorage Ind.
Chris Cook,
Crittenden Co.
Susan Duncan,
Scott Co.
Carmela Fletcher-Green,
Montgomery Co.
John Matt Fourshee,
Carlisle Co.
Joanna Freels,
Shelby Co.
Tom Haggard,
Covington Ind.
Debbie Hammers,
Butler Co.
Venita Murphy,
Webster Co.
Angela Parsons-Woods,
Rockcastle Co.
Brandon Rutherford,
Madison Co.
David Turner,
Walton-Verona Ind.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Tom Bell,
Christian Co.
Jerry Browning,
Garrard Co.
Becky Burgett,
Gallatin Co.
Joy Colligan,
Owen Co.
Pat Hall,
Campbellsville Ind.
Jimmy Hinkle,
Barbourville Ind.
Donna Isfort,
Estill Co.
Vanessa Lucas,
Breckinridge Co.
Keith Mason,
Elliott Co.
Kathleen Price,
Martin Co.
Shawn Smee,
Murray Ind.
Nancy Uhls,
Simpson Co.
4 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
Kerri Schelling, CAE
KSBA Executive Director
EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS
I love coffee. As soon as I wake up, I am on a mission to brew my first cup. A minimum of 20 ounces
later, I am ready to start my day.
If I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you in person, there’s a good chance I had a coffee in my hand
or somewhere close by. And you might have seen me spending quality time working and meeting in
coffee shops. When you’re anywhere long enough, you start to pick up on things. As a trainer at heart,
I can’t help but “brew” a few lessons from my experience.
Learn to tune out the noise. The average Starbucks is not a quiet spot. Espresso machines hiss,
dishes clink, people chat, music blares. For some, that chaos makes it hard to focus. School board
members face a similar challenge: learning to tune out the distractions and zero in on the real issues
that matter for their district.
That doesn’t mean you stop listening altogether. Instead, it’s about investing less of your energy
in the insignificant, and more in conversations that are meaningful, productive and civil. Maybe
that means staying out of the Facebook comment threads, steering clear of neighborhood gossip
or focusing more on urgent board priorities and less on the style in which a fellow team member
disagreed with you.
Service with a smile goes a long way. There is something special about walking into your local
coffee shop and the staff greeting you by name. And, if you’re a frequent flyer like me, they’ll know
your order by heart. (For the record, it’s a large black coffee in the A.M., a large sugar free vanilla latte
in the P.M.) Sometimes my cup even comes with an encouraging note written on it. And as I head out,
a barista says loudly, “Have a great day, Kerri. Thanks for coming in!”
School board members, with potentially thousands of constituents, can’t possibly know everyone
by name. But helping your community members (and not just the ones who voted for you) feel seen,
heard and valued is an essential part of your role as an elected official. That can be as simple as
thanking those who speak during public comment or showing appreciation to anyone who takes the
time to attend a board meeting. Small gestures go a long way in building trust and connection
Be cautious with your conversations. One drawback of working in a crowded coffee shop? You
sometimes hear conversations that are definitely not intended for you. I’ve been an unintentional
witness to job interviews, heated arguments, graphic medical stories (yikes!) and even gossip about
people I know. When you don’t realize how loud you are or just don’t care, it’s surprisingly easy to
share sensitive details without realizing it.
As an elected official, the stakes are even higher. Confidential matters and information such as
student discipline, pending litigation and superintendent personnel decisions must stay private.
You’re legally and ethically bound to protect that information, even from your closest friends and
family. A moment of frustration or a careless comment – even unintentionally – can break trust and
undermine your leadership.
Change takes time and good communication. Recently, the Starbucks around the corner from
KSBA headquarters made a change when they swapped out three identical trash bins for one trash
bin and two recycling bins. The staff put up colorful signs to explain what items go in each container.
Simple enough, right? Yet weeks later, all three bins are still full of trash.
That’s the challenge: even small, mindless habits are hard to break, let alone shifting an organiza
tion – or school, or district’s – culture, or implementing major policy changes. Real change requires
more than a new system – it needs buy-in at every level, consistent recognition and reinforcement
through clear, ongoing communication. Without that, people will default to what they’ve always done.
Until our paths cross again, here’s to great leadership and great coffee!
Venti, vidi, vici?
Leadership lessons from a coffee shop
Kelly named KSBA
communications director
Brenna
Kelly has been
named KSBA
Communica
tions direc
tor. Kelly has
served as the
association’s
publications
manager since
2018. Prior to
joining KBSA,
Kelly worked
in the com
munications division at the Kentucky
Department of Education. Before mov
ing into public relations, Kelly was a re
porter at daily newspapers in Kentucky,
Ohio, South Carolina and Florida.
KSBA is hiring
KSBA is seeking a Communications
manager to help tell the story of
Kentucky’s public schools and the local
school board members who serve them.
This position supports the association’s
strategic communications and advocacy
goals through writing, editing and
content development across print and
digital platforms.
Learn more about this position at
ksba.org/Employment.aspx.
Filing for 2026 elections open
As of Nov. 5, candidates can now file
for school board seats that will be on
the ballot in the 2026 general election.
The deadline to file with county clerks
Kelly
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 5
TAKE NOTE
for a board seat is June 2. In 2026, three
seats on independent school district
boards and two seats on county district
boards will be on the ballot. This year
there is a new election related deadline
– county clerks must notify school
boards by Dec. 1 of this year if they plan
to use a school building as a polling
place in 2026. This requirement was
part of House Bill 684 passed in 2025.
COSSBA announces actor,
director Phylicia Rashad as
2026 keynote speaker
The Consor
tium of State
School Boards
Associations
(COSSBA)
announced
that Phylicia
Rashad, an
actor and
director, will
serve as the
opening key
note speaker
at the COSSBA
National Conference on March 13 at the
Galt House in Louisville. Best known
for her iconic role as Claire Huxtable
on “The Cosby Show,” Rashad’s career
spans stage, screen and academia. Ra
shad also served as dean of the Chad
wick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at
Howard University and holds the Toni
Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and
Humanities.
The March 14 keynote speaker will
be cultural futurist, author, musician
and educational entrepreneur Ravi
Hutheesing, whose life is a symphony
of roles – rock star, aviator, cultural
diplomat and entrepreneur – with each
chapter steeped in the spirit of change.
His speeches empower educators,
entrepreneurs and organizations to
foster cultural competence in the age
of artificial intelligence, and pivot
toward a global future with clarity and
conviction.
The March 15 keynote speaker
will be child therapist and national
speaker Stuart “Mister Stu” Perry. Perry
reframes challenging behavior through
the lens of development, neuroscience,
and compassion – helping education
leaders see how well-intentioned
systems sometimes set kids up to fail.
Superintendent opening
The Newport Independent Board of
Education is advertising for candidates
for the district’s next superintendent.
Matt Atkins was named the district’s
interim superintendent in June. Atkins,
a Newport graduate, had been principal
of Newport Primary School since 2017.
The district has selected KSBA’s
Superintendent Search Service to
facilitate its search for the district’s
next leader. For more information on
the opening or to apply, go to ksba.
org/KSBACurrentSearches.aspx. The
deadline is Jan. 5, 2026, with a July 1,
contract start date.
If your district is interested in
working with KSBA on an upcoming
superintendent search, visit ksba.
org/supersearch.aspx for more
information.
Kentucky School
Boards Association
260 Democrat Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601
800-372-2962 | ksba.org
The Kentucky School Advocate is published 10 times a year by
the Kentucky School Boards Association. Copies are mailed to
KSBA members as part of their association membership.
Executive Director: Kerri Schelling
Associate Executive Director: Josh Shoulta
Communications Director: Brenna Kelly
Association Engagement Manager: Matt McCarty
Rashad
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“Even if there has been a
reduction in force at USED,
it is important to note that the
requirement to comply with the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act is in full force.”
Robbie Fletcher, Kentucky education commissioner, on the reports that
most of the employees of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitation Services had been laid off.
From Louisville Public Media
Carrie
Holloway
“5th grade
transition
readiness
meetings are one
of my favorite
days!! Love talking with our Tigers
about their progress and goals!!
#TMGenius”
Carrie Holloway (@carriebholloway), Taylor Mill
Elementary School (Kenton County) principal,
on her school’s effort to make sure students are
ready for middle school.
From X, formerly Twitter
Taylor Everett
“They’re about
109 to 110% over
capacity, and if
we don’t change
anything, they will
get to 133% over
capacity, which is simply just, you
can’t run a school with that many
kids. And essentially, just people
have moved into the area more
than we thought, and also a lot of
kids, because Echo has been so
good, left private school to go to
Echo Trail."
Taylor Everett, Jefferson County Schools board
member, on the district’s plan to redistrict Echo
Trail Middle School which opened in the fall of
2023 in eastern Jefferson County.
From WDRB-TV, Louisville
Chris Bentzel
“The very best
way to start a
Friday morning,
“Donuts with
Grownups” at
the Dr. Martin
Luther King Early Learning Center!
Special treat to eat some breakfast
with my granddaughter & spend
a little quality time at the ELC!
#EarlyLearning #ThisIsCCPS”
Chris Bentzel (@BentzelChris), Christian County
Schools superintendent, on the district’s
preschool holding a breakfast event with
students’ grownups.
From X, formerly Twitter
Travis Johnson
“I’ve served as
Finance Director
for about two
years, and I can
honestly say
both current
and past boards, superintendents,
and directors have been excellent
stewards of taxpayer dollars.
They’ve consistently stretched
every dollar and provided more for
our students with less year after
year, and that’s exactly what we’ll
continue to do.”
Travis Johnson, Butler County Schools
finance director, on a petition circulating in
the community to force a vote on a 6.3 cent
facility tax the board recently passed.
From Facebook
6 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“The biggest benefit of
this new office is that it can
actually accommodate all of our
staff. Right now, we’re having to
send some of our people to use school
classroom space. We’re excited to return
that space to the schools and to the
students.”
Matt Rigg, Kenton County Schools chief operations officer, on the
district’s central office moving to a new building in Covington in
January.
From LINKnky, Covington
Billy Parker
“A child's brain
development is
90% completed
by age 5.
When we miss
out on giving
children exposure to phonics,
math skills and social skills during
this critical window, we miss a
major opportunity in a child's
development.”
Billy Parker, Scott County Schools
superintendent, on the Pre-K For All
initiative as the Kentucky Association of
School Superintendents announced its
endorsement of the governor’s push to
provide universal preschool.
From WLEX-TV, Lexington
Suzanne
Hundley
“I don’t care
if it was the
National Wildlife
Federation that
wanted to come
educate kids
about ducks. I don’t think it belongs
during the school day. We need to
keep our kids in the school during
the school day.”
Suzanne Hundley, Oldham County Schools
board member, on the board’s 5-0 vote not to
approve a request from an Ohio-based group
to provide an off-campus moral instruction
program for students during the school day.
From the Kentucky Lantern
Gina
Winchester
“It feels like
Murray.”
Gina Winchester,
Murray Independent
Schools board member,
after seeing the designs for the district’s new
$42 million, 750-student elementary school.
From the Murray Ledger & Times
Jewel Jones
“Students get to
approve agendas
and make motions,
and they look so
adult. I’m so proud
of you guys, and it
shows leadership, because you had
to meet a requirement to get here.
Continue to show excellence and
continue to be a leader so that you
can move forward.”
Jewel Jones, brother of longtime Paducah
Independent Schools board member Bobby
L. Jones, during the district’s board meeting
that is run entirely by students. After Jones’
death in 2003, the district created the
Bobby L. Jones Student Leadership Program,
designed to build leadership, public speaking
skills and teach students about the inner
workings of a school board.
From WPSD-TV, Paducah
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 7
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 9
After four months of research,
including meetings and town halls
across the state, a committee created by
Gov. Andy Beshear says the state should
expand pre-K access gradually and let
local districts decide when and how
that expansion occurs.
Earlier this year, Beshear created
the Pre-K for All Advisory Committee
to explore and garner support for
universal pre-K in the state. The
group presented its findings at an
Oct. 30 news conference and in a
39-page report.
“The findings are clear: Pre-K for All
will help our kids start school more
prepared, save parents and families
thousands of their hard-earned
dollars, boost our workforce, and
help our economy continue to thrive,”
Beshear said.
Currently, Kentucky students must
qualify based on income or disability
status to access publicly funded
preschool. In the 2023-24 school year,
27% of 4-year-olds in the state attended
public pre-school and when students
arrive for kindergarten, less than half
are ready to succeed in elementary
school, the report found.
“I know how education positively
impacts the lives of our people,” said
committee member and Rockcastle
County Schools Superintendent Carrie
Ballinger. “I see it every single day.
Getting kids a stronger start is crucial to
their development and to their long-
term academic success.”
Among the report’s recommendations:
• Expand state-funded public preschool
program now.
• Phase the preschool expansion over
several years.
• Allow districts to control preschool
expansion in their communities and
have the flexibility to make decisions
on when that expansion occurs.
• Provide services through a mixed
model that includes district-level
partnerships with Head Start,
private regulated childcare and other
community-based providers.
• Prioritize quality and flexibility in
implementation.
• The General Assembly should
authorize the Kentucky Department
of Education to establish
administrative regulations with the
focus on local flexibilities for things
like facilities, transportation and
educator requirement and allow
application-based waivers.
• Establish a unified data system for
agency partners and track education
and workforce success data.
As of Oct. 30, 63 county judge-
executives, 31 mayors and the Kentucky
Association of School Superintendents
have endorsed the Pre-K for All
initiative which urges the Kentucky
General Assembly to make expanding
access to pre-K for all 4-year-olds a top
priority in the 2026 legislative session
during which lawmakers will craft a
new two-year state budget.
In KSBA’s 2026 Legislative Issues
Survey, 89% of board members
and 93% of superintendents who
responded said they support expanding
pre-K access to all 4-year-olds.
Pamela Morehead, Eminence
Independent board member and KSBA
president,
served on
the advisory
committee
alongside more
than two dozen
other education
and community
stakeholders
including
superintendents
and business
and government
leaders.
Beshear has urged the Republican-
led legislature’s supermajority to fund
universal pre-K. The Kentucky Board
of Education also listed funding for it
in its 2026 legislative agenda. More
than 25 legislators have said they
support pre-K for all, according to the
report. However, Republican legislative
leaders have not voiced their support
for universal preschool.
“We continue to hear from Kentucky
families that they need quality, year-
round child care, not a universal
preschool model,” Kentucky House
Speaker David Osborne (R-Prospect)
told WHAS11-TV in a statement in June.
Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, at the
news conference announcing the
report, said pre-K “isn’t political” but
“the right thing to do.”
“It will expand access to child care
and learning. It will give parents and
caregivers options and help them to
save money,” she said. “It’ll create jobs
and boost our workforce, and we’re
getting right to work to get this done
for Kentucky, for our families, our
businesses and for our future.”
Committee recommends phased,
locally controlled pre-K expansion
STAFF REPORT
To read the full report,
scan the QR code or go to
prek4all.ky.gov.
Sam Flynn, executive director of the Pre-K for All
initiative, (top) speaks at a town hall meeting with the
advisory committee listening. Provided
Covington Independent
Superintendent Alvin
Garrison speaks at a press
conference in support of
Pre-K for All. Provided
10 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
Ky. Teacher of the Year champions
project-based learning in math
KENTUCKY TEACHER, KDE
Michelle Gross, center, a mathematics teacher
at Spencer County Middle School, was named
the 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. Kara
Byrn Dowdy, right, an English teacher at
Mayfield High School (Mayfield Independent)
and Melanie Howard, left, a special ed teacher
at Corbin Primary School (Corbin Independent),
were also named finalists. Provided by KDE
2026 Kentucky Teacher
Achievement Award
winners
Gross was among nine educators
who were honored as 2026 Kentucky
Teacher Achievement Award Winners
at the Oct. 7 ceremony. Kara Byrn
Dowdy, an English teacher at Mayfield
High School (Mayfield Independent)
was named High School Teacher of the
Year finalist and Melanie Howard, a
special education moderate and severe
disabilities teacher at Corbin Primary
School (Corbin Independent) was named
Elementary School Teacher of the Year
finalist.
“This is a day of celebration
to recognize the work and
accomplishments of nine exemplary
educators,” Commissioner of Education
Robbie Fletcher said. “They represent
more than 40,000 fellow teachers who
give of themselves every day to help our
students achieve success.
Also in attendance were Lt. Gov.
Jacqueline Coleman, Kentucky Board
of Education members and 2025
Kentucky Teacher of the Year Jennifer
Montgomery.
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 11
Spencer County Middle School
teacher Michelle Gross designs vibrant
learning experiences to help her
students understand how math applies
to their lives.
Gross, a 22-year teaching veteran,
was named the 2026 Kentucky Teacher
of the Year during an Oct. 7 ceremony
in Frankfort.
“I want to build a culture of learning
throughout the state of Kentucky that’s
rooted in community,” Gross said. “I
want to see every voice uplifted. I want
it expanded beyond a single classroom
or a single year.”
Gross teaches four 7th-grade math
classes and a gifted and talented class
called The Academy, where students
pick a subject area to dig into deeper.
Gross said she loves teaching math
not only because she is good at math,
but also because she loves helping
students see how the subject connects
to the real world.
For example, Gross has students pick
a recipe and use math to scale it up for
a crowd or scale it down for just a few
people. Then students cook the food,
either for their family or their class.
Gross also started the Dream
Homerama project where students
design and build a model of
their dream house. They start by
researching architecture and design
concepts, then useing the math they
learn in class to design it digitally and
build 3D models.
Students then present their houses
in front of architects, contractors,
interior designers, real estate agents
and community members.
“When I originally started doing
this, I thought this is going to benefit
my kids. It did benefit my kids, but it
also benefited the community,” Gross
said. “The community was like, ‘Oh
my goodness, look what these kids are
capable of doing.’”
As a student herself, Gross always
loved to help other people but didn’t
know she wanted to be a teacher until
she was a senior in high school when
her teacher saw she excelled at math
and helping others and asked her to
start tutoring other students.
One of those students was at risk of
not graduating.
“At this point, I thought maybe I
might want to be a teacher, but I still
wasn’t 100% sure,” Gross said. “On
graduation day when he crossed the
stage, it was one of those moments for
me. … I was like, ‘This is where I can
make a difference.’”
She was thankful for the teachers
who saw her gift and encouraged her
to help other students. Now, Gross does
the same thing for her students.
She recently noticed some
students were having trouble with
a proportionality concept. But one
student understood it, so Gross asked
her to make a video explaining the
math problem.
“She was so excited to do that
and she emailed me back and she’s
like, ‘I’d love to do some more of
these,’” Gross said. “Giving her that
opportunity, it helped the other kids
as well because (they) were able to
watch the video and said, ‘That makes
more sense now.’ So seeing that my
teachers in the past did that for me
and now I have the opportunity to
do that for my students, I feel like it’s
kind of come full circle.”
Spencer County Middle School teacher
Michelle Gross, helps students understand how
they will use math in their lives. Provided
12 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
“I would love
to see a change
in statute to
allow districts
to maintain
the same rate
without the
necessity to
jump through
additional
hoops,” said
Susan Barkley, chief financial officer of
Shelby County Schools.
This year, at least 15 school boards
have passed a nickel or are waiting
to see if a recall campaign will be
successful, and at least four boards have
voted to maintain their current tax rate
subject to a recall.
Here are snapshots of a few of
those efforts.
Lawrence County
After a double
nickel failed
at the ballot
in 2023, this
year Lawrence
County Schools
Superintendent
Katie Webb
asked her board
to consider a
new approach –
something Webb
calls the “shared responsibility nickel.”
The board passed a rate at 62 cents
per $100 of assessed value, just 0.1 cent
over the rate that would general 4% in
new revenue. Of that rate, the district
would restrict 5.3 cents for the nickel
with 2.2 cents coming from the general
fund and 3.1 cents coming from the tax.
Webb presented the plan across the
county including on a video playing
on a loop on local cable. She met with
the staff of every school in the district
and explained the plan to the county
clerk so that he could explain it to those
interested in filing a recall petition.
As school boards set tax rates each
fall, they must weigh a number of
factors: how much revenue will each
rate generate, can the revenue keep
up with rising costs, what are the
district’s facility needs? In some cases,
that might lead to choosing a tax rate
that’s subject to a recall vote – either
because the rate generates more than
4% more revenue than the previous
year or because it’s a five-cent
equivalent tax dedicated to facilities.
In the fall before the budget session
of the Kentucky General Assembly,
districts give extra consideration to the
five-cent facility tax (commonly called
a nickel tax) because it’s the last chance
to qualify for state-money legislators
typically include in the new two-year
state budget.
That money comes through
equalization, in which the state
provides matching funds based on
attendance, property assessments and
other factors. That boosts districts’
bonding capacity and allows them
to undertake construction projects
that they would not be able to afford
without it.
“Construction
costs have
gone up a lot,
especially since
Covid,” said
Chay Ritter,
division director
at the Kentucky
Department
of Education.
“What cost you
$30 million
before Covid is now $50 million, that’s
why a lot of districts are doubling down
on nickels, too; that’s an unfortunate
side effect of increase costs.”
In addition to construction increases,
boards are facing increased costs for
food, salaries, buses and insurance. That
has led several boards to vote to keep
their tax rate flat this year. Of course,
that comes with threat of a recall vote.
Boards weigh district needs, tax rates
By Brenna R. Kelly | Staff writer
Ritter
Webb
Barkely
“I really think the way that we
approached it, where only point one
was recallable, all you were going to get
back was $1 on $100,000 of assessed
property, it really wasn’t worth the
effort,” she said.
No one attempted to recall the
tax and the district will now be able
to replace 70-year-old Louisa West
Elementary and fund other needed
renovations, she said.
“Will we get the revenue that a
district would get if they were going to
do a standalone nickel? No, but in our
community, standalone nickel would
not have gone, we just tried that twice
in the last decade.”
Webb noted that having the
recallable nickel is a prerequisite
for state equalization and for any
additional facility funding the
legislature might consider.
“I had a lawmaker say to me, if you
don’t have that nickel, that’s your
community’s message to us that either
you don’t have facility needs or you’re
going to take care of them yourself,”
she said.
LaRue County
In LaRue County, the board’s attempt
to pass a nickel tax needed to build
a new high school is now pending in
court. The board voted to levy a nickel
tax, bringing the district’s tax rate to
57.2 cents per $100 of assessed value
– 4.2 cents higher than the previous
year’s rate.
Opponents circulated a petition to
place the tax question on the ballot.
While opponents said they collected
more than the required number of
signatures, the LaRue County clerk
ruled that the petition did not meet the
state law because “two pages of the
petition were not substantially uniform
in style as they contained different
headings and verbiage than all the other
papers of the submitted petition.”
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 13
The petition committee filed
suit in circuit court challenging the
clerk’s determination.
Powell County
Voters in Powell County will decide
on Nov. 25 whether to pass a nickel tax
after a recall petition was successful.
The board voted to add 5.8 cents per
$100 of assessed value, bringing the tax
rate to 58.3 cents.
The district projects that the nickel
tax would increase its bonding potential
from $6 million to $21 million.
Superintendent Sarah Wasson told
WKYT-TV that the district plans to
improve its track and field, build a
baseball field and make improvements
to school buildings.
“There have been numerous
statements of ‘everybody but Powell
has these things for their kids, but why
not me?’” Wasson said.
After the county clerk certified that
the petition had reached the required
signatures, the board opted to hold a
special election. If the vote fails, the
tax will revert to the rate that would
general 4% in new revenue.
Logan County
Logan County Schools will have to
wait a bit longer to find out if it will
receive the revenue from a nickel tax.
The board voted in June for 5.9 cents
per $100 of assessed value in order to
replace an overcrowded elementary
school and make other improvements.
After a petition secured enough
signatures and was certified, the board
decided not to hold a special election,
which would have cost the district more
than $84,000, but to put the question on
the ballot in November 2026.
“We also believe that most of our
community understands how important
it is to invest in safe, modern, and
equitable school buildings for every
student in our district,” Board chair Tim
Hall said in a social media post.
Frankfort Ind.
In some cases, boards can lower the
tax rate and still have a recallable nickel
tax. This year, Frankfort Independent
approved a tax rate of 102.9, which is
a 4% increase to the district’s revenue
plus a recallable nickel tax. However,
that tax rate is nearly five cents less
than last year’s rate.
Board member Jina Greathouse said
she wavered on supporting a nickel in
addition to the one the board passed in
2016, according to The State Journal.
“After a lot of thought, I’m going
to support the addition nickel,”
Greathouse said. “We’re in a good place
where we can still lower the rate with
the additional nickel.”
Butler County
The Butler County board voted in
October to pass a 6.3 cent nickel tax,
which would take its property tax rate
from 41.6 cents to 48.4 cents per $100
of assessed value – one of the lowest
rates in the state.
On its website explaining the tax, the
district listed numerous facility needs,
including replacing the HVAC and fixing
roof leaks at its 35-year-old high school.
The proposed increase would not go
into effect until the 2026 tax bills. As of
mid-November, a petition to recall the
tax was circulating in the community.
Flat tax rate, still recallable
This year, several boards voted to
keep their tax rate the same. However,
because of increased property
assessments that rate would generate
more than 4% new revenue and
therefore be subject to a potential
recall vote.
In Mercer County, the board voted to
keep a tax rate of 71.6 cents per $100 of
assessed value – the same rate for the
past three years. After a petition was
circulated and certified by the county
clerk, the board voted to reduce the tax
to 70.5 cents, the rate generating 4%
more revenue, and thereby avoiding a
recall vote. Reducing the rate means
the district will lose out on $176,000
in new revenue, Superintendent Jason
Booher said.
“The board made the decision to act
responsibly with taxpayer dollars while
keeping our focus on students,” Booher
said in social media post. “By lowering
the tax rate, we are protecting local
resources that can go directly toward
our schools rather than being spent on
a costly election.”
The Jessamine County board also
voted to keep its tax rate flat. And
like Mercer County, some residents
launched a petition. However, the effort
to force a vote to recall the tax failed
when the opponents could not secure
enough signatures.
Shelby County Schools board also
voted to keep the tax rate the same.
Opponents started a recall petition,
however the petition failed to get the
required number of signatures – leaving
the district’s rate the same as this past
year’s.
New nickels that could
receive equalization in the
new two-year state budget.
2025
Adair County
Boyle County
Bracken County
Elliott County
Frankfort Independent
Lawrence County
Lee County
Middlesboro Independent
Paintsville Independent
Williamsburg Independent
*Several districts have pending nickels
2024
Bell County
Breckinridge County
Clinton County
Danville Independent
Lincoln County
Whitley County
Source: Kentucky Department of
Education
14 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
New regional directors to join KSBA’s board
STAFF REPORT
During KSBA’s Regional Meetings this
fall, five of the association’s 12 regions
elected new regional directors. A sixth
region – Eastern Kentucky North – did
not receive applications by the deadline
and KSBA President Pamela Morehead
appointed a new regional director. The
six new directors will serve three-
year terms on the 27-member KSBA
Board of Directors, beginning Jan. 1.
Their districts will also serve as the
regional host districts for the 2026-
2028 regional meeting. Each regional
director’s superintendent serves as the
regional secretary.
The new directors include:
First Region:
Christine
Thompson,
Livingston County
Thompson, a grant
writer for a domestic
violence crisis center, has served on
the Livingston County board since
2019 and served as board chair from
2019 to 2024. She has more than 15
years of leadership experience in
nonprofit management and public
service, including executive roles in
senior services, disability services,
workforce development and tourism.
Thompson has secured multimillion-
dollar grant funding and led teams of
more than 30 staff. In addition to her
board service, she is a board member
of Child Watch of West Kentucky and
the Kentucky Commission on Women.
Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree
in international relations and an MBA,
both from Murray State University.
Eastern Kentucky North: Brenda
Mattox, Nicholas County
Mattox is retired after a career
in several roles
including 28 years
for the Kentucky
Cabinet for Health
and Family Services,
as a legal secretary
and for Nicholas County Hospital. She
has served on the Nicholas County
board since 2021 and is currently
the vice chair. She has also served as
Parent Teacher Association president,
band booster vice president, Family
Resource and Services Centers
Advisory Council member and sports
concessions manager. She holds an
associate degree in applied science
from Maysville Community and
Technical College.
Third Region: Mark Rich,
Edmonson County
Rich, who is retired from the U.S.
Department of
Interior, has served
on the Edmonson
County board since
2022. In addition to
his board service,
Rich is the co-founder
and a current board member of Santa’s
Helping Hands and is vice-chair of the
board of directors of the Chalybeate
Volunteer Fire Department. He holds
a degree from Western Kentucky
University. While working for the
National Park Service, including 25
years at Mammoth Cave National Park,
Rich visited all 50 states, Washington,
D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Fifth Region: Allie Wright,
Trimble County
Wright has served on the Trimble
County board since
2020 and as chair
since 2021. During
her time on the board,
Wright has also
completed KSBA’s
Academy of Studies.
A retired nurse, Wright serves her
community on the code enforcement
board, as a Bedford Fire Department
board member and as a member of
the Trimble County Foundation for
Educational Excellence.
Central Kentucky: Jason Collins,
Anderson County
Collins, a senior
resident engineer for
Extreme Networks
supporting the
Commonwealth
of Kentucky, has
served on the
Anderson County board since 2021
and board chair since 2023. He has
more than 16 years of experience
in K-12 education technology,
including positions with Johnson
County Schools and the Kentucky
Department of Education. In addition
to his board service, Collins is deputy
fire chief for the Lawrenceburg
Fire Department, where he has
served for more than 23 years. He
studied computer science at Eastern
Kentucky University and Morehead
State University and completed
coursework in music at Prestonsburg
Community College.
Upper KY River: Ruschelle
Hamilton, Breathitt County
Hamilton, a former
educator, has served on
the Breathitt County
board since 2012
and has been board
chair for 12 years.
She previously taught
special education for seven years and
owned a small business. Hamilton
holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees
in education and special education. She
is active in her community as a school
volunteer, member of the Our Breathitt
committee, former president of the
Academic Boosters of Breathitt and a
volunteer for multiple booster clubs.
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 15
WE’RE ALL PROTECTING
SOMETHING.
LET US PROTECT
WHAT MATTERS TO YOU.
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16 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
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228 E Reynolds Road, Suite 1
Lexington, KY 40517
859.273.3700
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NEW MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
KSBA seeks student artwork,
performances for Annual Conference
STAFF REPORT
Student involvement is one of
KSBA’s most time-honored conference
traditions, serving as inspiration
for event participants and a clear
reminder of the purpose behind
effective district leadership.
Most notably, student involvement
is showcased in the form of student-
designed banner artwork and
student performances. KSBA is
asking districts to submit student
art and to apply to have students
perform at its 2026 Annual
Conference, to be held Feb. 20-22 at
the Galt House Hotel in Louisville.
Student banner artwork
KSBA asks each district to submit
student-designed banner artwork for
display at the event and in conference
materials. Banner artwork,
submitted electronically, is designed
to commemorate KSBA’s Annual
Conference theme of “Built to Last” and
to focus attention on student success.
Banners must be submitted no
later than Feb. 4, 2026, to guarantee
inclusion in conference displays, on
social media, etc. Last year, KSBA
received banner artwork from more
than 100 districts, and we hope to
receive even more this year!
Student performances
Districts are also encouraged
to submit applications for student
performances. KSBA regularly
provides opportunities for students
to perform during conference general
sessions and events.
KSBA seeks a variety of student
entertainment acts including choirs,
bands, ensembles, etc. The association
is also looking for a student/students/
student organization that would like to
lead a student-led devotional service on
Sunday morning.
Applications must be submitted by
Jan. 9, 2026. Groups will be notified of
acceptance by Jan. 16, to allow time for
travel arrangements.
Please reach out to training@ksba.
org if you have any questions about
how you can showcase your district at
KSBA conferences.
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 17
KSBA’s 2025 Winter Symposium will
be held Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec.
6 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown.
This is the last in-person training
opportunity for school board members
to earn their annual state-mandated
training hours. Board members and
administrators have plenty to look
forward to on this final pitstop on
KSBA’s 2025 “Road to Greatness.”
Keynotes feature national, state
leaders
Friday’s opening
keynote address
will be delivered by
Kathy McFarland,
executive director
of the Consortium
of State School
Boards Associations
(COSSBA). McFarland
stepped into her
current role in July,
having previously
served as the top
executive at the
Ohio School Boards
Association, as well
as a lengthy career as
a teacher and principal.
The timing could not be better, as
the national organization brings its
annual conference to Louisville this
March. KSBA is one of 25 member
states of COSSBA. More info is
available at cossba.org.
This year’s symposium includes an
additional plenary session on Saturday
morning, featuring Melissa Goins,
division director for Family Resource
and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC).
Goins will discuss the impact of FRYSCs
and how they help students thrive as
learners, citizens and future employees.
National, state leaders to address
Winter Symposium
STAFF REPORT
Legislator panel returns
Friday’s luncheon
session will once
again feature a panel
of state legislators
discussing key
education issues
ahead of the 2026
Regular Session
of the Kentucky
General Assembly.
KSBA welcomes
panelists Rep. Kevin
Jackson, R-Bowling
Green, Rep. Timmy
Truett, R-McKee, and
Rep. Lisa Willner,
D-Louisville. Each
currently serves
on the House
Primary and
Secondary Education
Committee, and their
ties to their local
public schools run
deep.
“With two former
school board members, Jackson
and Willner, and a current school
administrator, Truett, on the panel,
I think conference attendees can
look forward to a really thoughtful
discussion of education policy,” said
KSBA Staff Attorney John Powell.
20 workshops to choose from
Participants in #KSBAwinter25 will
have their selection of 20 workshop
sessions. In addition to offerings in the
required topics such as finance, ethics
and open meetings/open records,
this year’s event boasts many new
presenters and several new sessions.
“We’re very excited for our
members to experience the topics and
trainers at this year’s symposium,”
said Debra Webb, KSBA’s director
of Board Team Development.
“Postsecondary partnerships, school
violence prevention, developing
local accountability models, artificial
intelligence; it’s a really diverse lineup.”
Trade show and networking
Symposium participants will have
ample opportunities both days of the
event to engage with industry leaders
in architecture, construction, energy
management, financial planning,
student support and more. This year’s
sold-out tradeshow features roughly
30 exhibitors.
“Exhibitors love KSBA’s trade show
because it gives them a chance to
connect with those districts whom they
currently or have previously worked,
and our members learn more about
many of the leading service providers
available to their schools,” said KSBA
Engagement Manager Matt McCarty.
View a session schedule and
complete easy online registration
for #KSBAwinter25 at ksba.org/
KSBAWinterSymposium.aspx or by
scanning the QR code.
McFarland
Jackson
Truett
Willner
Goins
Scan here to see a
complete schedule
and register.
we can’t build them in anticipation; we
have to wait until we can demonstrate
the need. I think we’re starting to see
the initial effects of growth, with the
new Ford plant (BlueOval SK Battery
Park). Our student population this year is
projecting up.
Q. In addition to serving on the
school board, you also serve on
the board of trustees for the KSBA
Unemployment Program. Why is
service important to you?
A. I saw there was an opening on the
board and felt I could offer something.
My undergraduate degree from Duke is
in economics. In law school, I took every
corporate finance course I could take. I
actually enjoy looking at numbers and
reading financial reports.
Q. What have you discovered in
serving in this capacity so far?
A. I feel the unemployment fund is well
managed and in good shape. The people
who serve as trustees take it seriously. It
is a great service for our school systems
and their school boards to have this
unemployment trust fund in place. I
think it’s an
economical way
for them to cover
those needs.
BEYOND THE BOARD
Q. You had a long career as a lawyer
and a judge before you ran for and
became a school board member in
2019. Why did you decide to run?
A. My dad had served almost 12 years
on the board. When he passed away, my
mom was selected to fill his seat, and she
served 12 years. So, I had exposure to the
school board. In my work here as county
attorney, then as a district and circuit
judge, I had contact with the schools and
knew what was going on.
One of the issues that made me decide
to run was when talk began about
taking a brand-new elementary school
built to replace an old one in Cecilia,
where we live, and converting it to a
middle school to replace West Hardin
Middle. Some people in Cecilia didn’t
like that idea and started talking to me
about it. I decided to run so I could see if
we could find a resolution.
Q. After you graduated from law
school, you became an FBI agent. Tell
us a little about that?
A. When I was an undergraduate at
Duke, I had a friend whose dad was
an FBI agent, and that got me thinking
about working for the FBI. Later, after
I graduated from law school I decided
to apply. I had just passed the bar when
the FBI offered me a spot at Quantico. I
was in three years, and it was a great life
experience. I worked in Washington and
Chicago and got to see part of the world
I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Because
I’d been an economics major, I worked
on white-collar crime, but I did a bit of
everything.
Q. Was there anything that surprised
you about being on the school board?
A. What I didn’t realize was the
differing role the school board plays
today as compared to when my
parents served years ago. Today, we’re
essentially stewards of the system
with respect to the resources that we
get and how those resources are used,
but we don’t have a role in the day-to-
day operation of the schools. The only
control we have over that is that we hire
and fire the superintendent.
Q. Hardin County is one of the fastest
growing counties in the state. What
kind of challenges does that bring to
your district?
A. We are probably in the middle of the
greatest building program our district
has seen. Part of that is from growth.
We also have been building new schools
to replace old, worn-out schools. We’re
fortunate to have the financial resources
to do that.
At the same time, we’re keeping a close
eye on student population growth and
are making new schools a little bigger
than the old ones they replace so there’s
more capacity. We’re concerned that
down the road we’re going to need to
build some new schools as well. However,
Steve Bland
HARDIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
Hometown: Sonora but have lived 40-plus years in
nearby Cecilia.
Family: Wife, Judy; son, Kelly, Hardin County and
Western Kentucky University grad, IT professional
serving active duty in the Navy
Favorite subjects in school: English and economics
Hobbies: Fishing, sports, running, yoga, moderate
weight training
Book recommendation: Jimmy Buffett’s “A Pirate
Looks at 50.” A wonderful book about people,
relationships, social differences and common
interests shared by people across a range
of life situations. I’ve read it multiple times.
Interesting fact: When I came back here
to practice law, I became an assistant
county attorney and prosecuted cases in
the local court, which is where I met my
wife. She was a police officer for the City
of Radcliffe, appearing as a witness in a
case. We got married several months later
and have been married 46 years. She was
the first female patrol officer in Hardin
County.
Getting to know
18 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
Tier 1 Affiliates
Alliance Corporation
American Fidelity Educational Services
ClotfelterSamokar Architects
Comfort & Process Solutions
Houchens Insurance Group – Education
Performance Services
RossTarrant Architects
Schmidt Associates
Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects
Summit Architects + Engineers
Trace Creek Construction
Trane Kentucky & Southern Indiana
Tier 2 Affiliates
Ascendant Facility Partners
BFW/Marcum Engineering
BHP/Thermal Equipment Sales
CMTA, Inc.
Compass Municipal Advisors
Deco Architects, Inc.
Elevate Academy KY Rank Change
RBS Design Group Architecture
RSA Advisors
R.W. Baird
Tier 3 Affiliates
Brown + Kubican, PSC
G. Scott & Associates, Architects
MBI Education
Visit ksba.org/Affiliates.aspx if you would like
to learn more about our affiliates.
Affiliate Members
Wolf
Gould
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 19
Woodford board member named
elected official of
the year
KT Gould, a
Woodford County
Schools board member,
was named the
Kentucky Association
for School Social Work
Elected Official (Local)
of the Year.
Gould, who has a doctorate in social
work, works diligently to serve the
students, staff members and families of
Woodford County Schools.
“We thank her for advocating for our
students as she strives to put the ‘whole
child’ at the forefront of all that she does
as a board member,” the district said.
Gould said she was honored to receive
the award.
“School social workers are one of the
most vital components of a thriving
education system as they work in
countless ways to meet the needs of our
students and their families to ensure that
they have the capacity to reach their full
potential,” she said. “This recognition is
especially meaningful because it reflects
our shared commitment to equity,
opportunity, and student well-being. I’m
deeply grateful for this award and for
the chance to continue advocating for
schools where every student feels safe,
supported, and empowered to thrive.”
Wolf named 2025
Kentucky School
Psychologist of the Year
Henderson
County High School
Psychologist Stacia
Wolf has been named
the 2025 Kentucky
School Psychologist
of the Year by the
Kentucky Association
for Psychology in the Schools (KAPS).
Each year, KAPS honors individuals
who embody the association’s mission
and advocacy priorities. Wolf will now be
considered for the National Association
of School Psychologists’ awards program.
EDUCATION BRIEFS
While serving Henderson
County for the past 20 years, Wolf
served as a member of the KAPS
Executive Council (WKEC Regional
Representative for six years) and the
KAPS Conference Committee (three
years). She is widely respected for her
leadership, innovative practices and
compassionate service to students and
families, and has also been actively
involved in regional crisis response
teams, the district said in a release.
Wolf’s passion for school psychology
is evidenced by her intentional
approach to empowering students.
She is currently leading a sizable
research project exploring ways school
psychologists can help students with
disabilities grow in self-awareness,
determination and advocacy.
Wolf earned her bachelor’s and
specialist degrees from Western
Kentucky University, where she is
now pursuing a doctorate in Applied
Clinical Psychology.
State ACT scores released
Kentucky students in the class of 2025
performed among the top of states that
test 100% of their students on the ACT
college admissions exam, according to
data released by ACT on Oct. 15.
Kentucky students in the graduating
class of 2025 earned an average
composite ACT score of 18.4. The most
recent set of test information is used for
students testing more than once. A total
of 77 students earned a perfect score
of 36.
Kentucky’s average composite score
ranks fourth among the 11 states
testing 100% of their graduates, behind
Nebraska, Wyoming and Tennessee.
“As with any assessment, the ACT
results from the class of 2025 paint a
complex picture,” said Commissioner
of Education Robbie Fletcher. “We at
the Kentucky Department of Education
are proud of where we stand nationally
among states where every student is
tested, which reflects our dedication to
preparing every student for success in
college, career and life.”
Kentucky’s average composite score
for the class of 2025 fell from the
18.6 score recorded by the Kentucky
class of 2024. The number of 2025
graduates who took the ACT in
Kentucky increased to 52,946, up from
51,029 graduates the previous year, a
3.8% increase.
The ACT was administered to all
Kentucky high school juniors as part
of state testing, which KDE funds, and
measures students’ level of readiness for
college in core academic content areas.
KDE also funded an optional free senior
retake opportunity, which enabled more
than 19,800 graduates in 2025 to meet
college readiness benchmarks.
Starting in the spring of 2026,
Kentucky high school juniors will
take the SAT as part of the state’s
required college admissions exam
testing. ACT’s contract with the state
ended on June 30.
20 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025
Q. You have been a school psychologist
for more than 20 years. Why are
psychologists needed in schools?
A. School psychologists support other school-
based district mental health professionals.
We have a lens that’s about data. In addition
to student and individual data, school
psychologists also evaluate systems and
programs and show how to organize and
summarize student level data to identify
needs of the school or the students. The
foundation of school psychology is database
decision making. School psychologists are
trained in mental health and academic
interventions and in diagnostic assessment, as
well as family intervention. On the academic
side, for example, they are trained to screen
for learning disabilities.
Q. So, school psychologists work with
other mental health professionals in the
district?
A. Yes, they provide consultation services with
teachers and families around mental health or
academic support. A school psychologist can
work closely with the school counselors and
school social workers on behavior and mental
health interventions, as well as with special
education teachers to support their students
in terms of learning abilities and strength-
based assessments.
Q. You are the president of the
Kentucky Association for Psychology
in the Schools (KAPS). Tell us about the
organization and its mission.
A. KAPS currently has about 200 members.
Our mission is to provide school psychologists
with leadership support, professional advocacy
and professional training to meet the needs of
school communities. We have a fall conference
each year, and for those who can’t come due
to distance, we will be doing some regional
programs. Our conferences are open to other
educators and community members.
Q. As part of your job, you co-lead the
district’s trauma-informed care team.
Can you describe what that entails?
A. Legislation requires every district to
have a trauma-informed education plan.
Our team assesses schools in our district
and then develops a district plan. The goal
is to increase awareness of students who
have experienced trauma, training for
law enforcement and partnerships with
community agencies and awareness of the
impact trauma has on learning. We focus on
screening and adverse childhood experiences
and try to educate about that, but also, we
want to promote resiliency. Schools provide
lots of opportunities for positive childhood
experiences, so that gives us a way to support
students. If they’re coming to school and
they’re having positive learning experiences,
positive friendship experiences and positive
relationships with adults, that can mitigate
the impact of trauma. For many students who
have experienced trauma, schools are a safe
place for them physically and psychologically.
Q. The legislation you mentioned, the
School Safety and Resiliency Act passed
in 2019, requires all schools to have a
trauma-informed care team. What has
been the impact of that requirement?
A. The requirement came out right before
Covid, which was a traumatic event for
students, teachers and families. But it allowed
us to focus on our care for kids, staff and the
school community and talk about community
and how schools are a community. When
the shutdown was lifted, we wanted our
students to come back to school and to have
a safe place because we had seen from the
news that during the Covid shutdown there
was an increase in domestic violence and
abuse at home. So Covid provided a chance
to focus on trauma-informed supports when
students came back because they had not
received school-based supports for two
years. Many schools, even before the trauma-
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Mackenzie Leachman
In Conversation With
features an interview
between a leader
or figure involved in
public education and
a representative of
the Kentucky School
Advocate.
Mackenzie Leachman is
outgoing president of the
Kentucky Association for
Psychology in the Schools.
A licensed psychologist
with more than 20
years of experience in
preschool, elementary and
secondary settings, she is
a school psychologist with
Fayette County Schools.
This month, schools
recognized National
School Psychology Week
November 3-7.
November 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 21
informed care teams were established
through legislation, provided a lot of
the services, so having the trauma-
informed care teams provided an
avenue of increased awareness and
connection with families as well as
community providers.
Q. Much of the bill addressed the
physical aspects of school safety
like locked doors and secure
vestibules, but it also addressed
the mental health aspects of
school safety. Can you talk about
why that’s important?
A. Metal detectors are about physical
safety but there is also psychological
safety, which means that a student
feels safe at school. If something
happens, they have someone they
can go to. It means that they feel that
they’re respected as a member of
their community. So that is part of that
trauma-informed care plan. A part
of the plan is also offering student
support through a notification system.
If the police came to a student’s home,
a message is sent to the school with
a note that says, ‘handle with care’
regarding that child. That tells the
school the child had a disruptive
situation in their home and law
enforcement was involved. It doesn’t
necessarily tell us what happened, but it
creates awareness to be more sensitive
to the student.
Q. A recent KDE district
vacancy survey showed that
this fall many districts have had
a hard time filling psychologists’
position, with 37 open positions
across the state. In 2023, the
state had 1 school psychologist
for every 2,057 students,
far below the recommended
level of 1:500 students and
the national average of
1:1,000 students. Are there
any solutions to increasing
psychologists in Kentucky
schools?
A. To help address the shortages,
we have regional members who help
promote open positions for school
psychologists. We have gone to our
national conference to promote
Kentucky and to recruit school
psychologists to Kentucky, which has
been successful. We have gone to high
schools and started introducing school
psychology to students as a potential
career pathway. Transy, Centre and
UK have invited us to speak to their
psychology majors to promote school
psychology as a profession. Many small
districts that don’t have the funding
might not even have a psychologist, so
we are continuing to advocate for the
position. We are in talks to increase our
training programs, which are at Murray,
UK and Western. The program at EKU
shut down, which was a big hit for that
part of the state.
Q. Are there other ways KAPS is
working to increase the number
of psychologists?
A. Our executive council’s action plan
includes engaging at the regional level
with universities, highlighting the
school psychologist role during School
Psych week in November, asking the
governor to support School Psych
week and organizing recruitment
sessions for educators interested in
going into school psychology. Several
special education teachers have come
back to be school psychologists. We’re
working with our national organization
to promote an interstate compact to
reduce barriers that can make it difficult
for school psychologists to move from
one state to another for work. We’re
also looking at pay and positions.
Jefferson and Fayette are probably the
highest paying, and so they absorb
a lot of the school psychologists, but
some of our smaller districts can’t
afford the salary schedule that those
districts have. So, we’re lobbying for
school psychologists to have more of a
corresponding pay for more positions.
Several districts are offering sign-on
bonuses and other incentives to help
recruit school psychologists.
Q. Since the pandemic, students
have showed more need for
mental health supports. Have
schools been able to address
the increased need? And if they
haven’t, what are some solutions?
A. I think schools are working with
families and their community to
address school-based needs for mental
health support. I believe our schools
are now being seen more as a resource
for mental health than maybe they have
in the past. There’s more awareness
around suicide assessment and mental
health awareness, and also empowering
students to help support each other
when they notice mental health issues
arise within their peer groups or within
their own families. There are programs
like Sources of Strength and many
others that promote wellness.
Q. What is one thing local
school board members need
to know about student mental
health and how it should be
handled in schools?
A. That schools can be a lifesaver
and a ticket to a better life for some
students. Research shows that if
there’s one adult that a student
trusts in the school, their outcomes
are so much more positive than
students who don’t have that. In our
Kentucky Summative Assessment,
every student responds to the
climate survey so school boards
can see what percentage of
students feel they have a trusted
adult in their schools. Looking at
those kinds of questions provides
some information as to what we
need to be doing to improve that.
Adequately staffing our teachers
and student support professionals
always helps students be more
supported at school and increases
their academic success.
IN CONVERSATION WITH