OCTOBER 2026
A PUBLICATION OF THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
New era
for SROs
Districts bring
officers in house
2 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
TAKE NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PEOPLE ARE TALKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
BEYOND THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
EDUCATION BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
IN CONVERSATION WITH . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
WORD SEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
VOLUME 32 | NUMBER 3
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Follow KSBA for education news, association updates, upcoming events and more
8
Court strikes down SB4
A court ruling has overturned a provision
of a new law that prohibited Fayette and
Jefferson County residents who teach in
another district from serving on their
local school board.
11 School safety evolves
More law enforcement officers are
working in Kentucky schools, while a
growing number of districts are creating
their own police departments. Explore the
changing role of school resource officers
and what’s behind the trend.
14 Across the regions
KSBA’s 12 regional meetings gave board
members an opportunity to connect
with neighboring school leaders, share
experiences and participate in board
training closer to home.
16 New voices on KSBA board
KSBA welcomes four new regional
directors to its board of directors,
bringing new perspectives and
experience from districts across the state.
PG 8
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 3
PG 14
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
Chris Cook,
Crittenden Co.
Carmela Fletcher-Green,
Montgomery Co.
John Matt Fourshee,
Carlisle Co.
Joanna Freels,
Shelby Co.
Debbie Hammers,
Butler Co.
Venita Murphy,
Webster Co.
Angela Parsons-Woods,
Rockcastle Co.
Ricky Pennington,
Morgan Co.
Trey Pippen,
Daviess Co.
Brandon Rutherford,
Madison Co.
David Turner,
Walton-Verona Ind.
Nancy Uhls,
Simpson Co.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Jason Collins,
Anderson Co.
Pat Hall,
Campbellsville Ind.
Jimmy Hinkle,
Barbourville Ind.
Jesica Jehn,
Kenton Co.
Vanessa Lucas,
Breckinridge Co.
Brenda Mattox,
Nicholas Co.
Jim Mullen,
Trigg Co.
Kathleen Price,
Martin Co.
Mark Rich,
Edmonson Co.
Christine Thompson,
Livingston Co.
Allie Wright,
Trimble Co.
/company/ksba
ksba.org
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@KSBAnews
@Kyschoolboards
ON THE COVER: Madison County Schools police
officer Jarad Northern, an SRO at White Hall
Elementary School, makes a chalk drawing on
the playground.
Photo provided by Madison County Schools
4 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
Growing up in Kansas, I saw fields of wheat stretch for what seemed like forever, transforming
the landscape into a sea of gold. As a child, I was fascinated by those fields. I loved the rustling
sound the wheat made as the wind swept across it and was amazed that the tiny green shoots I
had seen earlier in the year could grow so tall.
At the time, I wasn’t thinking about agriculture, planning or the lessons those fields might teach.
I was simply captivated by what I could see and hear in the moment. Years later, I’ve come to
appreciate that what caught my attention was only the visible result of months – and often
years – of work and preparation. The same can be said about public education and the role of
local school boards.
For school boards, it can be tempting to focus only on the outcomes. After all, outcomes are
what communities see, they make headlines and give us reasons to celebrate. But positive
outcomes – just like any bountiful harvest – depend on something far less visible: strong roots.
In agriculture, healthy roots anchor plants, provide stability during difficult weather and supply the nutrients necessary
for growth. Without strong roots, even the most promising crop is vulnerable. The roots of a successful district are found in
effective board governance. They include a shared vision for student success, clear policies, sound financial management,
ethical leadership and a productive partnership between the board and superintendent. Much of this work happens
without headlines and public attention, yet it is precisely these often-unnoticed efforts that create the stability and
direction districts need to thrive. And strong roots matter most when challenges arise.
Every district will face difficult seasons. Communities experience economic shifts. Expectations change. Student needs
evolve. Staffing challenges emerge. Unexpected events test a district’s resilience. Just as deeply rooted trees can withstand
powerful winds, districts grounded in effective governance are more likely to remain focused on their mission even during
periods of uncertainty.
Like farming, the work of a school board is rooted in long-term thinking. The visible results that communities celebrate
today are often the product of decisions made long before. Student achievement gains, innovative programs, successful
graduates, strong financial stewardship and positive school cultures do not appear overnight. They are the harvest of
countless conversations, thoughtful decisions and sustained commitment to serving students.
One of the most selfless aspects of school board service is the willingness to invest in outcomes that may not be realized
immediately. Board members are often called upon to make difficult decisions, address challenges and set a course that
will extend far beyond their own tenure. The students who benefit and the successes that emerge may be celebrated under
future boards, yet that does not change where those achievements began.
Like the roots beneath a wheat field, the foundational work of governance may remain largely unseen, but it is essential to
every harvest that follows. Every meeting, every budget discussion, every policy review and every strategic decision help
strengthen the roots that will support future generations of students.
Yes, the harvest may be what captures our attention, but it is the care taken to cultivate it that makes it possible. On behalf
of generations of Kentucky students whose futures will be shaped by your decisions, thank you for your service, your
stewardship and for tending those roots.
EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS
Kerri Schelling
Executive Director, KSBA
Cultivating what will last
KSBA welcomes Ruschelle
Hamilton
Ruschelle Ham
ilton, a Breathitt
County Schools
board member and a
former KSBA board
of directors member,
has joined KSBA as
a policy consultant
and eMeeting service
trainer.
Hamilton, who has
served on the Breathitt County Schools
board for 14 years, brings consider
able experience as a past educator and
administrator, small business owner
and private tutor to KSBA’s Policy and
eMeeting Services department. Aside
from her professional background and
years of board service, Hamilton also
served as a member of KSBA’s training
cadre from 2017-2023.
Hamilton holds a bachelor’s degree
in elementary education from More
head State University and a master’s
degree in special education from
Georgetown College.
Carroll County Schools
hires Robin Stephenson as
superintendent
Carroll County Schools Board of
Education voted on Sept. 30 to hire
Robin Stephenson as the district’s new
superintendent, a promotion from her
roles as both assistant superintendent
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 5
TAKE NOTE
and chief academic officer.
Stephenson is a Carroll County native
who has also spent her teaching career
in the community.
She has been a teach
er, assistant principal
or principal at three
of the district’s four
schools since 2004,
according a press
release.
Her work as assis
tant principal taught
her about leadership
and making connections, she said.
“I really learned to not just connect
with families and students, but develop
positive working relationships with
staff members,” Stephenson said.
“I really embraced visibility and
wanting to always be an approachable
person.”
As assistant superintendent, she
worked with acting Superintendent Ron
Livingood, who took on that role for
the second time in a decade in late June
following former Superintendent Casey
Jaynes’ retirement.
Stephenson said the desire to give
back to her community has fueled her
passion to create schools where stu
dents feel supported.
“I take great pride in our community
and kids,” she said. “Our students have
so much to offer, and I want them to
know the potential they have.”
Rowan County superintendent
to retire
Rowan County
superintendent Mike
Rowe has announced
his plans to retire
at the end of the
school year. Rowe
informed the board
of his retirement in
June in order to give
the board one year
to find his replace
ment. Rowe has led the district since
July 2023.
“I'll take every reasonable and fruitful
step to support a seamless transition
and ensure the continued success for
our students, faculty and staff,” Rowe
said during the June board meeting. “It
has been and continues to be a distinct
honor to serve as the superintendent of
Rowan County Schools.”
Board chair Jeff Patrick told Rowe that
he was thankful for Rowe’s leadership.
“You and I talked sometimes once a
week, sometimes once a day, sometimes
whatever it took, and it was an uphill
battle for the last three years. I truly
appreciate the notice, and we will put
steps in order to start moving forward,”
Patrick said.
KSBA’s Superintendent Search Service
is facilitating the board’s search, which
will begin in January 2027.
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
Communications Director: Brenna Kelly
Communications Manager: Brian Wilkerson
Hamilton
Stephenson
Rowe
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“It was very challenging, but we
have fully implemented it. It has
made us more secure today.”
Kevin Anderson, Whitley County Schools information technology
director, telling school board members about the district’s enrollment
in a Kentucky Department of Education cybersecurity pilot program.
From The News Journal, Corbin
Kalem
Grasham
“We’re not
always going to
agree to do the
same thing, but
at least if we’re
moving all of those institutions
in the same direction, I think the
people in Garrard County will
benefit from that.”
Kalem Grasham, Garrard County Schools
superintendent, on monthly lunches he has with
other local government officials to improve
communication and cooperation.
From Kentucky Teacher, KDE
Christy
Reliford
“Children will
play here, laugh
here, make
friends and
create memories.
The love JoAnn had for children
carries on.”
Christy Reliford, Boyd County Schools’
Cannonsburg Elementary principal, on the
addition of a new playground named in memory
of JoAnn McGranahan, who was a longtime
school district employee.
From The Daily Independent, Ashland
Denise Griebel
“This honor
recognizes
schools for their
commitment to
advancing whole
child health,
and implementing evidence-based
policies and practices to support
academic success and lifelong
wellbeing.”
Denise Griebel, Laurel County Schools
superintendent, on South Laurel High School
being named one of America’s healthiest schools
by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for
the third year in a row.
From The Sentinel-Echo, London
Justin Moore
“We talked about
this for a while,
and honestly, with
the world we’re in,
it was easier to try
to come up with
something that we could attach to
something that had a little bit of
nostalgia for parents, and so that’s
how we kind of landed on that
Book It.”
Justin Moore, Mason County Schools assistant
superintendent, on establishing a reading
program modeled after Book It, a 1980s reading
program that partnered with Pizza Hut.
From the Ledger Independent, Maysville
6 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“School isn’t the
same without everyone
in person. After a virtual week,
being able to get some face time
made everything a little better. We
have gotten to try to have some ‘normal’
Homecoming activities, make sure
learning is happening, and have meals
together as a school community.”
Joe Rogers, Frankfort Independent Schools High School principal,
on students temporarily attending classes at a local church while
repairs were being made after a fire at the school.
From the Frankfort State Journal
Tom Payne
“That’s
something the
board always
takes into
consideration.
But at this point,
there doesn’t
seem to be any direction other
than putting it up for sale.”
Tom Payne, Daviess County Schools’ board
chair, on the board’s decision to sell the former
district administrative office building, after
deciding it could not be repurposed.
From the Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro
Adam Hooker
“The students
used AI to
develop ways to
prevent or assist
in a natural
disaster. One
project was how to help evacuate
people during a tornado – which
was inspired by the tornado that
hit London last year. Another one
was an alert system that would
go to your phone, since during the
tornado many people didn’t hear
the alarm or the alarm didn’t reach
their area.”
Adam Hooker, East Bernstadt Independent
School’s chief financial officer, telling school
board members about recent school projects.
From The Sentinel Echo, London
Miranda Reed
“They have
completely
upgraded it so
that the students
will be proud
when they go to
competitions. It is something that,
when Lyon County Schools arrives,
we are excited and proud of what
we show up in.”
Miranda Reed, Lyon County Schools
superintendent, on the renovation of a marching
band bus, which coincides with the marching
band’s return after a seven-year hiatus.
From The Times-Leader, Princeton
Dustin Howard
“When Gus is in
a school building
or in a room,
the atmosphere
changes
immediately
to be a warmer, softer and better
place. He brings joy to our staff and
students during his weekly visits,
and he is also there for our kids and
staff during the hardest of times.”
Dustin Howard, Clark County Schools
superintendent, on the addition of a therapy dog
purchased by the school board and the city of
Winchester with the aid of a private grant.
From Clark County Schools
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 7
8 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
Court strikes down law barring
educators from serving on the
boards of two districts
STAFF REPORT
A Franklin Circuit
judge has struck down
a law barring residents
of Jefferson and
Fayette counties from
serving on the school
board if they are
employed more than
100 days in another
district.
In his Sept. 22 ruling, Judge Thomas
Wingate said the law, passed as Senate
Bill 4, violates the state constitution’s
prohibition on special legislation.
The General Assembly passed the law
earlier this year as the Fayette County
Schools’ board was under scrutiny amid
a budget deficit. Fayette County Schools
board chair Tyler Murphy is a teacher at
Boyle County Schools and was the only
person currently serving on a school
board who would have been impacted
by the law.
“I think this was a victory for
educators. It was a victory for the
Constitution. It was
a victory for the rule of law,” Murphy
told Spectrum News. “You know, when
this law was first proposed back in
the spring, we made it clear that it just
didn’t make sense to say that educators
should be banned from boards of
education. I first ran for the school
board in 2018 precisely because I was
an educator.”
The law barred employees who work
more than 100 days in a school district
from serving on the boards of education
in counties with more than 300,000
residents, meaning only Fayette and
Jefferson counties.
Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill,
calling it special legislation and noting
that decisions of who serves on a
board “should be made locally by the
people who live there, not the General
Assembly in Frankfort.”
Murphy, along with the Kentucky
Education Association, filed suit
seeking a permanent injunction to
keep the law from taking effect.
In his Sept. 22 order,
Wingate granted the
injunction and issued
summary judgment in
Murphy’s favor. The
attorney general has
not said whether he
will appeal the ruling.
In his ruling,
Wingate agreed that
the law violated the constitution’s
special legislative provision, noting that
the state Supreme Court rejected the
argument that Jefferson County Schools
should be treated different in 2025
when it overturned Senate Bill 1(2022),
which would have shifted power from
the elected school board and to the
superintendent.
He also questioned why teachers
could not be board members but other
professionals such as lawyers, doctors
or CEOs could.
“The Court is unable to discern a
reasonable basis for concluding that
a school-district employee, solely by
virtue of that employment, is incapable
of ‘devot[ing] their energies’ to the
duties of a large board of education,
while individuals employed in other
demanding professions are presumed
capable of doing so,” Wingate wrote.
The Senate’s Republican majority, in
a statement to Spectrum News, called
the decision disappointing and said
the majority “will carefully review the
court’s reasoning and any appropriate
next steps.”
Murphy, who is up for election in
November, faces two challengers, R.J.
Hijalda and Kathy Schiflett, to keep the
seat he has held for eight years. The
law would have prevented him from
serving a third term should he win the
Nov. 3 election.
Murphy
Wingate
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 9
KSBA board discusses training,
holds regular meeting
The 27-member KBSA Board of
Directors met in Frankfort at KSBA’s
office Sept. 18-19 for a work session
and regular meeting.
During the work session, KSBA
Director of Board Team Development
Matt McCarty led the board in a
discussion about how KBSA conducts
board member training and solicited
ideas for improving how board
members can strengthen their
governance skills and meet state-
mandate training requirements.
The discussion focused on making
training more accessible and relevant
to board members while continuing
to provide opportunities for board
members to learn together and build
effective governance practices.
During the board meeting, directors
heard an update on the association’s
strategic plan and a presentation from
an independent auditor who explained
that the association received a clean
report. The board also heard reports
from the KSBA Educational Foundation
and KSBA Unemployment Trust. The
next board of directors meeting will be
Dec. 5 during the Winter Symposium in
Louisville.
COSSBA goes to Washington,
Morehead joins COSSBA board
The Consortium of State School
Boards Associations (COSSBA) held its
annual Federal Advocacy Conference
Sept. 20-22 in Washington, D.C.
During the conference, the COSSBA
Board of Directors met for its quarterly
board meeting and to start work
on the association’s next strategic
plan. KSBA President and Eminence
Independent Schools board member
Pamela Morehead participated in her
first board of directors’ meetings since
joining the COSSBA board in July.
Over the two days, more than 350
school board members and public
education leaders came together for
learning, networking and to make
their voices heard on Capitol Hill and
advocate for issues that matter to public
schools, including: preserving E-Rate,
the Federal Communications program
that discounts internet costs for
schools; increasing federal education
funding; and supporting policies that
strengthen public education.
Journalist Judy Woodruff, who has
covered every presidential election
since 1976, was the keynote speaker.
She hosted PBS’s NewsHour until 2022
when she retired from the program.
Former PBS NewsHour anchor Judy Woodruff speaks with COSSBA Executive Director Kathy
McFarland during COSSBA’s Federal Advocacy Conference.
KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling
and President Pamela Morehead attend
COSSBA’s Federal Advocacy Conference in
Washington, D.C.
KBSA Board of Directors members Carmela
Fletcher-Green, a Montgomery County Schools
board member, and Joanna Freels, a Shelby
County Schools board member, discuss board
member training during the board work session.
10 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
Key financial performance measures for KY schools
Wednesday, Nov. 18 | Noon – 1 p.m. (ET)
In this session, we will take an in-depth look at key financial metrics for school districts to help
determine the financial health of your district. This will include observing financial trends, peer
analysis and impact on future bonding capacity.
Counts toward state-mandated finance requirements
Communication skills for bridging the divide
Wednesday, Dec. 9 | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. (ET)
What board members say (and how they say it) can inspire or discourage, instill confidence or
doubt. Our words can navigate to common ground, or they can draw a line in the sand. In this
session, learn how bad communication habits undermine your message and discuss techniques for
effectively communicating in times of disagreement.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
UPCOMING WEBINARS
KSBA offers convenient webinars on timely topics. Most KSBA webinars are
one hour in length and are good toward state-mandated board training. Each
webinar is available for $75. Visit ksba.org/webinars.aspx or scan the QR code
for details and to access online registration. While webinars are presented
through the lens of school board service, all are welcome to participate.
Contact training@ksba.org with questions on these or any of KSBA's training opportunities.
WINTER
SYMPOSIUM
LOUISVILLE | DEC. 4-5
LOUISVILLE | DEC. 4-5
2026
New school board members elected Nov. 3 are encouraged to
attend this event and can earn credit toward their 2027 state-
mandated training before officially taking office in January!
SAVE THE DATE!
More details available at ksba.org/KSBAWinterSymposium.aspx
Registration for #KSBAwinter26 opens later this month.
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 11
SROs: A growing role, a changing
relationship as districts take the lead
As school resource officer numbers increase,
more districts form police departments
By Brian Wilkerson | Staff writer
School resource officers (SROs) have
long been a mainstay in Kentucky
schools – the General Assembly codified
their role in 1998 – but the profession
has entered a new era where there
are more SROs in school buildings and
more of them employed by the school
districts they serve.
The number of SROs has more than
tripled since 2018 and now stands at
937, according to the Kentucky Center
for School Safety (KCSS).
The two main drivers behind
this growth are a 2022 legislative
mandate calling for one SRO per school
and increased state funding that is
providing up to $20,000 annually for
each full-time position. Private schools
are eligible for that assistance as well.
“This is for protecting children,
teachers, staff at all
Kentucky schools,”
Sen. Max Wise,
R-Campbellsville,
said during a Sept. 24
interview on KET’s
Kentucky Edition.
The growth in
SROs in the state
means that they now
comprise 10% of the
state’s sworn law
enforcement officers,
said KCSS analyst Lee
Ann Morrison.
“I think that says
a lot in itself that we
have 10% of our law
enforcement that are
being assigned in
schools,” she said. “And not a negative
way. It’s a very proactive thing, not a
reactive thing.”
As SROs increase, districts take
greater control
Another major change affecting SROs
is that, according to KCSS, two-thirds
now work directly for their district
rather than being assigned through
an agreement with a local sheriff’s
or city police department as districts
increasingly form their own law
enforcement departments.
For many years, only Fayette,
Jefferson, McCracken, Clark and
Montgomery county schools were in
this category, called school-based law
enforcement agencies. But as of this
school year, 50 districts, nearly a third
of the 171 districts, now have their own
department, Morrison said.
Chris Barrier, chief
operations officer for
Montgomery County
Schools, has provided
guidance to more
than half of the newer
departments. He is
often recommended
to districts looking
for advice by KCSS
because of his extensive experience
leading his own district’s department as
chief for 13 years.
More districts are forming their
own departments, he said, because it
provides more flexibility in scheduling
and better ensures that SROs will
stay longer in schools than under
the contract model, which often sees
officers promoted or transferred in just
a few years, breaking the important
bonds they had formed with students.
The district-run departments “are
driving down the number of kids that
get introduced to the criminal justice
system, and it’s just a better way to
manage legal issues in your schools,”
Barrier said.
Fayette County Schools Police Chief
Martin Schafer also cited the benefit of
having SROs staying in one school for a
longer period.
“So many times, if there is a negative
encounter, it’s framed in positive
encounters and positive interactions
we’ve had with that student before,” he
said, adding that students are also more
likely to let SROs they trust be aware of
potential problems in school and even
in the community.
Wise
Barrier
Morrison
12 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
The role benefits the officer as well.
“It’s just amazing to see people that
have had a career in policing have a new
energy or a new life into their career
because they’ve got kids that they can
lead or inspire and teach and be a part
of a community,” Schafer said.
Madison County Schools and Bullitt
County Schools are two of Kentucky’s
larger districts that formed their own
police departments this school year.
Leading Madison County’s, which
opened in August, is Bill Wilcox, former
state school security marshal. Wilcox
described his new role as chief as his
“most challenging and rewarding to
date,” in a district social media post.
The district started by hiring 19 police
officers for its 21 schools.
“This surge of districts building their
own agencies has assisted Madison
County in building ours,” Wilcox
said. “We have been able to reach out
and ask a lot of questions to schools
with established police departments.”
Bullitt County Schools is not too
far behind, having hired its own chief
earlier this past summer.
Board chair Matt Mooney said school
leaders “spent a
significant amount of
time looking at how
this would be effective,
both from a financial
standpoint and from a
logistics standpoint.”
Schafer encouraged
districts considering
forming a law
enforcement department to “be very
selective in your hiring” and only bring
in those who “have a heart for children
but have the skill set of a police officer.”
As the number of SROs rose, the role
wasn’t always immediately embraced
in Kentucky.
In the summer of 2019, for example,
two members of Jefferson County
Schools Board of Education wrote in an
op/ed that “a tremendous amount of
research has found that school police do
not improve safety. … In fact, evidence
shows that school police actually make
schools more dangerous.”
Their board voted a month later
to end its SRO program, citing
budget constraints facing the police
departments providing the officers and
concerns about the emotional and legal
impact armed officers in schools were
having on minority students.
The district’s SRO numbers have since
begun to rebound, in part because of
legislative requirements. Wise told KET
that he was pleased with the Jefferson
County Schools’ turnaround on law
enforcement.
“They’ve worked and they’ve done
a much better job of where they are
today than where they were years
ago,” he said.
‘More important that just being
a protector’
It has been nearly 75 years since
Flint, Michigan, police partnered with
school administrators to place a fulltime
police officer in schools, becoming what
is considered the first school resource
officer program in the country.
At the time, the goal was to better
tackle delinquency.
In the early 1980s, more schools
across the country opened their doors
to officers as part of the D.A.R.E.
program, which has since taught
generations of students about the perils
of illegal drug use.
Starting in the late 1990s, however,
school-safety initiatives have often been
a response to tragedy. The Kentucky
General Assembly created KCSS in the
wake of the 1997 Heath High School
shooting in McCracken County that left
three students dead and five wounded,
and 2019’s School Safety and Resiliency
Act was passed after a 2018 Marshall
County High School shooting in which
two students died and 18 were injured.
Wise, the act’s primary sponsor,
said he knows that preventing every
act of violence in a school may not
be possible.
New Madison County Schools police officers Cristopher Johnson, Kit Carson Elementary; Gina Smith.
Madison Kindergarten Academy; Scottie Pennington, Foley Middle School; and Adam Hall, Clark
Moore Middle School, show off their new badges. Photo provided
Ben Wilcox, Madison County Schools police chief and former state school security marshal, speaks at
the swearing in ceremony for four new Madison County Schools police officers. Photo provided
Mooney
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 13
“But I will say this, SROs are the ones
that are truly putting themselves every
day to be able to protect the students
and staff,” he said on KET. “And I think
the relationship building that’s going
on is even more important than just
being a protector.”
Barrier said he believes the
proactive SRO approach in his district
is the reason it saw a 40% drop
in student arrests and other law
enforcement actions.
“What we know about recidivism
rates is that once a student enters the
criminal justice system as a juvenile,
they have a 70% likelihood to reoffend,”
he said.
But SROs help reduce that because
they can build relationships with the
students.
Today, SROs not only have to be
certified sworn officers, but they also
have to take 120 additional hours of
specific SRO training. Morrison, who
wrote her doctoral dissertation on
SROs, said Kentucky is a national leader
in this regard.
A recent KCSS survey of Kentucky’s
SROs found that more than 400 of the
937 have 20 to 29 years of total law
enforcement experience, and 500 have
been working in a school for three to 10
years. Only five are in their first year as
a sworn officer.
A separate survey by the Office of the
State School Security Marshal found
that nearly three-fourths of the 1,332
schools the office surveyed had an
assigned SRO this past school year. The
influx of new state dollars this year and
next is expected to bring that number
closer to the 100% goal the legislature
set in 2022.
Josh Sargent, a Harlan County
sheriff’s deputy who was named SRO
of the Year by the Kentucky Association
of School Resource Officers this past
summer, said his own experience
growing up as an at-
risk youth has helped
him better connect
with his elementary
school students.
“I got into a little bit
of trouble when I was
younger, a little mean,”
he told WLEX-TV. “And
I lacked a few things,
so I wanted to provide that for others so
this is a way for me to give back.”
This assignment is “a little bigger
than your standard, everyday job,”
he said. “You’re a role model, you’re
a mentor, you’re a counselor, you’re
security, you’re safety. There’s a lot of
hats you have to put on each day.”
That difference in being a typical law
enforcement officer and being an SRO
is what makes the SRO so important to
schools, Barrier said.
“Like I always tell people, you can’t
learn algebra until you feel safe and you
feel loved,” he said. “Once you get those
two things knocked out, you can teach a
kid a lot of things.”
If your district has an SRO vacancy,
the Kentucky Center for School
Safety offers a job portal that
helps bring applicants and schools
together. To post a vacancy, email
KCSSrecruitment@ksba.org and
include the district’s name, whether
the position is full- or part-time,
salary and contact information and
any other relevant details, such as
minimum qualifications, benefits
and contract days.
A Marshall County SRO walks through a school
with a student. In 2018, two Marshall County
High School students died after another
student opened fire at the school.
Harlan County Schools Superintendent Brett Johnson (left), board members Hiram Fields and Gary
Farmer, Harlan County Sheriff Chris Brewer, Josh Sargent and board members Keri Stevens and
Wallace Napier recognize Sargent as SRO of the Year.
Sargent
The 2025-26 annual report by the
Office of the State School Security
Marshal found districts have taken
other steps to keep facilities safe.
Of the 1,332 schools surveyed, all
require visitors to report to the front
office and to be identified while on
school grounds, and all also have at
least one camera viewing the main
entrance.
14 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
Across Kentucky, school board
members, superintendents and
affiliate members came together
this fall for KSBA’s annual Regional
Meetings.
Held across the state’s 12 regions,
the meetings gave local school leaders
an opportunity to receive training
closer to home, share ideas and
connect with colleagues navigating
many of the same challenges and
opportunities.
The gatherings also provided
opportunities to hear from state
policymakers and other education
leaders, with legislators and Kentucky
Board of Education members joining
several meetings.
This year’s meetings took on added
significance as KSBA celebrates its
90th anniversary. For nine decades,
the association has brought Kentucky’s
locally elected school board members
together to learn, lead and advocate
for their communities.
Just as important as the training
were the conversations happening
around the room – introductions,
shared experiences and the exchange
of ideas among people committed
to Kentucky’s public schools. Those
connections are at the heart of KSBA’s
regional structure and strengthen the
collective voice of school boards across
the Commonwealth.
Regional Meetings strengthen board connections
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 15
16 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
New regional directors to join KSBA’s board
During KSBA’s Regional Meetings,
four of the association’s 12 regions
elected new regional directors who will
join KSBA’s Board of Directors. Two
regions that would have held election
received no applications – Eastern
Kentucky South and Upper Cumberland.
Those seats will be appointed by KSBA
President Pamela Morehead for a term
of three years each. There is also an
unscheduled vacancy in the Upper Ky.
River Region. Morehead will appoint a
director there as well after reviewing
applications. Information on current
board vacancies, including those
accepting applications, can be found at
ksba.org/BoardofDirectors.aspx.
Second Region: Jim Mullen,
Trigg County Schools
Mullen, a retired pharmacist, was
appointed to the Trigg County board
in 2025 and is unopposed in the
November election.
In addition to his
board service, Mullen
is an avid gardener.
He is a certified
master gardener and
has taken numerous
horticulture classes
at Murray State
University. He has also
served as president of the Gateway
Garden Club in Cadiz.
Mullen is also active in his church
serving on the St. Stephen’s Catholic
Church Parish Council.
He also volunteers at Trigg Co.
Intermediate School.
“I love those kids and volunteering
here at school with the teachers,”
he said. “I want to serve to make a
difference. I help at school to make the
kids’ school experience more successful
and through my kindness and love to
make them better people.”
Northern Kentucky Region:
Jesica Jehn, Kenton County
Schools
Jehn was first appointed to the KSBA
board in April to fill a vacancy. She was
elected to the seat at
the Northern Kentucky
Regional Meeting.
Jehn has served on
the Kenton County
board since 2013;
during that time she
has served as both
chair and vice chair.
She has also served
on the district’s Community-based
Accountability System Committee for
five years.
In addition to her board service, Jehn
has served on the Immanuel Church
Trustees Committee for three years and
on the board of Sonshine Preschool for
five years. She has also served on her
church’s Children and Family Ministry
Team for eight years.
Fourth Region: Kim Iman,
Elizabethtown Independent
Schools
Iman, a healthcare
quality improvement
advisor, has served
on the Elizabethtown
Independent Schools
board for eight years,
four as vice chair.
She also serves on
the district’s Gifted
and Talented Advisory
Committee, Calendar Committee and
Sister’s Keeper Advisory Committee.
In addition to her board service, Iman
is the founder of Pure Inc., a young
woman’s empowerment group that
provided curriculum-based resources
to help young women of Hardin County
to become productive citizens. She also
serves on the board of Wesley Hilltop
House, a community organization that
provides educational, spiritual, and
financial information for the community
of Hardin County.
“I feel my knowledge for school board
policies and procedures, my ability to
work as a team player and ability to
listen and hear for the betterment of
our region and the state of Kentucky is
what I would contribute to this role,”
Inman said in her application.
Middle Cumberland Region:
Richard Kazsuk, Russell
County Schools
Kazsuk, a retired
educator, has served
on the Russell County
school board for 12
years. During his board
service, Kazsuk has
served as both chair
and vice chair. Kazsuk
previously served as
a director-at-large on
KSBA’s board from 2023-2024.
Kazsuk served as principal of the
Lincoln County Area Technology
Center, and taught for 18 years at
Russell County Schools and nine years
at Lee County Schools. He also served
as a consultant for the Kentucky
Department of Education.
Kazsuk holds a bachelor’s degree
from Western Kentucky University
and a master’s degree from Eastern
Kentucky University.
“My career in public education has
allowed me to view education from
several different perspectives,” he said.
“I hope to contribute the perspective
of both longtime educator and
experienced local board member.”
KSBA seeks applications for
directors-at-large
This fall, KSBA will be seeking
applications for four at-large seats
on the association’s board of
directors, effective as of KSBA’s
2027 Annual Conference for a term
of three years. Applications for those
seats and information on KSBA’s
board of directors is at
ksba.org/BoardofDirectors.aspx.
Applicants will be interviewed
by a committee of KSBA directors
and members during KSBA’s Winter
Symposium, Dec. 4-5 in Louisville. For
questions about KSBA board service,
email Executive Director Kerri Schelling
at kerri.schelling@ksba.org.
Mullen
Jehn
Iman
Kazsuk
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seems to be a greater sense of stability.
There are even meetings where no one
signs up for public comment. What do
you think has helped the board move
forward?
A. I think it’s the “known” now. I
think a lot of times whenever I was
going to school board meetings before
I was a school board member, it was
just the unknown – we did not know
what the plan was going to be, if there
was going to be another lawsuit. There
was so much stuff going on. Whereas
when we made the decision to go on
with the community campus, I feel like
it just stopped it, because everybody
knew what was going to happen. I think
everybody just kind of accepted it, and
then there was more
information being put
out. I think people
were not quite as
angry about
it when they
saw the
whole plan. I
can’t wait to
see the work
complete.
BEYOND THE BOARD
Q. You’ve spent much of your life
serving your community, first in the
military and then in law enforcement
and now as a school board member.
What does public service mean to you,
and what drew you to serving on your
local school board?
A. Public service has been a major
impact in my life – my parents were
both police officers, so I’ve grown up
around it. My mom was actually the first
female officer in Danville, Kentucky. It
was always important, and then I was
a school resource officer for a while, so
that kind of brought me to the schools.
Then, of course, I have kids in the school
system, so I wanted to be part of the
school board. There was a lot going on at
the time and I just thought I could help
guide in the right direction.
Q. During your time as a sheriff’s
deputy, you served as a school
resource officer. How does that
experience shape the way you view
school safety as a board member?
A. It has a very big impact. I went
through all the school resource officer
training back when I was a deputy. I
taught D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) for quite some time, so all of
that was just really important. I try not to
be one-dimensional, like that’s all I think
about is safety, but that’s obviously my
bread and butter and that’s what I tend
to focus a lot on.
Q. More than 10 years ago, you were
one of the lead detectives in the Crystal
Rogers case before the FBI officially
took over. What was it like finally
seeing a conviction in the case?
A. The FBI did take over pretty quickly
– I was pretty much a liaison. But to get a
conviction was very important and I was
very happy for the family.
Q. After your law enforcement career,
you became a real estate agent. What
do you enjoy about helping someone
find a home in the community where
you serve as a board member?
A. Recently I showed a house to
somebody that was coming to our school
district, and the reason they were coming
to Nelson County was because of the
county schools. That was wonderful to
hear.
Q. Besides your real estate job, how
else do you pick up on public opinion
and concerns with the schools outside
of the board meeting itself?
A. I’ll be starting my third year and I
really thought I’d get a lot more phone
calls and emails, but I have not. I try to
make myself available as much as I can
– I’m pretty easy to find. My business is
right downtown and my phone number
is plastered everywhere. It’s been a fairly
interesting, smooth ride.
Q. Just before you joined the school
board, the district was going through
a period of turmoil. Since then, there
Joseph ‘Joedy’ Gilliland
NELSON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Hometown: Danville
Family: wife, Kristie; son, Trey, a Columbia University
graduate who lives in New York; daughters Lynnsie, a
senior, and Brooklynn, a 6th-grader.
Favorite subjects: U.S. history and math.
Hobbies: 3D printing, sports cards and spending time
with the family.
Book recommendation: “The Cubs Way” by Tom
Verducci, I’m a big Cubs fan, but I also liked how it
explained the process of building a winning
culture, developing people and getting
everyone working toward the same goal.
Interesting fact: My business’ name,
Signal One Realty & Insurance, comes
from my law enforcement background.
“Signal One” meant “home,” when talking
on the radio, so when I started a real estate
company, I felt like it was the perfect name.
Getting to know
18 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
Education
Calendar:
Nov. 3: Election day
Nov. 4: Superintendents Advisory
Council meeting
Nov. 4: Budget Review
Subcommittee on Education
Nov. 9: Interim Joint Committee
on Education
CPE says nearly 50% of
graduating high schoolers have
earned dual credit
Almost half of 2024’s graduating high
school seniors earned a “C” or better in
at least one dual-credit course, according
to a new report by the Kentucky Council
on Postsecondary Education (CPE).
Their 47.5% completion rate more than
doubled the rate for seniors in 2016 and
is on track to meet the 50% threshold
CPE has set for 2030.
The report, “Tracking Progress Toward
Kentucky’s Dual Credit Attainment
Goal,” found that all demographics saw
improvement over that timeframe, with
those eligible for free or reduced-price
lunch having their completion rate rise
by almost a fifth.
CPE said in a press release that
students taking at least one dual-credit
class had $6,000 less debt on average
after graduating college and completed
their degrees up to two-thirds of an
academic year faster.
CPE said more than 52,000 students
enrolled in a dual-credit class last school
year, earning more than 345,000 college-
credit hours. Those enrolled completed
two courses on average by the time they
graduated.
State retirement systems report
double-digit investment growth
The state retirement systems for
certified and classified school employees
recently announced that, for the fourth
year in a row, investment growth has
approached or exceeded 10%.
According to a Teachers Retirement
System (TRS) press release in August,
its retirement fund grew by 15% during
the 2026 fiscal year, while its health
insurance trust fund went up 16%.
In the three previous years, annual
investment growth for both ranged
from 10.61% to 12.73%, all well above
the system’s 7.1% goal.
TRS reported that its 10-year
investment return is now among the top
4% of all domestic pension plans having
at least $1 billion in assets. Executive
Director Gary Harbin said those gains,
along with full funding in the state
budget, mean “the retirement security
of Kentucky teachers continues to be
ensured.”
In a separate press release, the
Kentucky Public Pensions Authority
(KPPA) said the County Employees
Retirement System (CERS) – which
includes public schools’ non-teaching
staff – had investment growth of 13.4%
last fiscal year.
In a related retirement matter, TRS
Deputy Executive Secretary and General
Counsel Beau Barnes told the General
Assembly’s Public Pension Oversight
Board on Sept. 22 that the system’s latest
five-year experience study – covering the
2021 to 2025 fiscal years – recommends
little change in TRS’ current investment
and demographic assumptions.
Barnes said TRS assets rose by $4
billion last year, even after $2.8 billion in
benefit payments. Overall, the system is
60% funded, and its unfunded liability is
$17.5 billion.
Legislators worry some public
retirees could lose insurance
Legislators serving on the General
Assembly’s Public Pension Oversight
Board raised concerns on Sept. 22
that state and local public retirees not
yet Medicare-eligible could lose their
health insurance in 2027 if they do not
participate in open enrollment as now
required.
Officials with the Teachers Retirement
System and the Kentucky Public
Pensions Authority told the committee
that limited contact information for
some retirees makes a loss of coverage
a possibility. While traditional open
enrollment is in October, the officials
noted that individuals could be enrolled
as late as Jan. 31, 2027.
Committee Co-Chair Sen. Jimmy
Higdon, R-Lebanon, said that having
even one person lose health insurance
next year is “too many.” He urged the
Beshear administration to delay the
mandatory requirement by a year, which
would maintain the longstanding policy
of the state automatically selecting a
default insurance plan for those who do
not reenroll.
Gov. Andy Beshear’s office told the
Kentucky Lantern that the state is
“working to make sure Kentucky state
employees and retirees are informed
and prepared to select the best Kentucky
Employees’ Health Plan for their
personal needs.
New board appointments:
• Russellville Independent:
Kathleen Collins
• Southgate Independent: Keaton
Thomas
October 2026 | Kentucky School Advocate 19
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Tier 1 Affiliates
Alliance Corporation
American Fidelity Educational Services
ClotfelterSamokar Architects
Houchens Insurance Group – Education
Performance Services
RossTarrant Architects
Schmidt Associates
Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects
Summit Architects + Engineers
Trace Creek Construction
Trane U.S. Inc.
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
JRA Architects
RBS Design Group Architecture
RSA Advisors
R.W. Baird
Tier 3 Affiliates
Brown + Kubican, PSC
G. Scott & Associates, Architects
Visit www.ksba.org/Affiliates.aspx if you would
like to learn more about our affiliates.
Affiliate Members
20 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2026
Q. You come from a long line of
Kentucky educators and have said
you knew from a very young age that
you wanted to be an educator. How
did growing up in that environment
shape the kind of superintendent you
are today?
A. Both my parents were teachers, and I think
there were 11 relatives before me. I’ve always
just had a love for public education in general,
and my holiday dinners were my dad, my uncles,
my aunts, cousins talking about education. In my
family, you’re either a coal miner, a mechanic or
an educator, with the majority being educators.
So being around those people with purpose and
passion and love for what they do – whether it
was the classroom, the garage, family resource
or maintenance – I got a chance to be around the
whole system.
Q. With all of those family members
having a variety of positions in
education, does that help broaden
your perspective?
A. When we say ‘Students First, Team Always,’
that’s been our mantra since the pandemic.
It’s more than just a slogan. ‘Students First’ is
preparing them for a quality life – every single
one of them. The ‘Team Always’ part is that
everyone brings value to the student experience,
no matter what your job is. I think we have
elevated classified voice in recent years and it’s
made it stronger, and our team has been very
connected to their purpose and we’ve seen with
recruitment and retention of employees and
then just overall academic achievement. Because
it does take more than just certified employees.
We truly have a team concept here, for our
classifieds to feel seen and valued.
Q. You’ve described servant leadership
as an important influence on your own
leadership style. What does being a
servant leader mean to you?
A. I think it’s putting others before yourself in
all aspects and really making students the main
focus. I think a lot of times as adults, our adult
egos can get in the way and we have a saying on
our team, ‘Leave your ego at the door and let’s,
with fidelity, do what’s best for students.’ So
when it comes to serving, as superintendent, you
have to model the way – leaders go first. Simply,
it’s living by the Golden Rule. And if we just
wake up every day trying to treat others the way
we want to be treated, I don’t know if there’s
a better term for what a servant leader is. And
that’s what we try to wake up every day to do as
a team.
Q. You began your career as a special
education teacher and received
KBE’s Grissom Award for improving
opportunities for students with
disabilities. How has your special
education background informed your
approach to being a superintendent?
A. I was an elementary special education
teacher for six years and I was a director
of special education in Meade County. We
developed a comprehensive intervention
system that others have come here to see
through Close the Gap Kentucky. We worked
with many districts trying to close gaps and
develop systems and structures. … The culture
of learning is our system – that is our processes
and our structures, and you can’t improve what
you don’t define and you can’t improve what you
don’t measure. So I think the special education
teacher in me, the special education director
in me understands that, one, you’ve got to own
it and say they all matter; and then you’ve got
to define what you’re looking for and progress
monitor the impact.
Q. Being named Kentucky
Superintendent of the Year recognizes
your leadership, but you have
emphasized that the honor also reflects
the work of your district team and
community. What do you hope it says
about Meade County Schools?
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Mark Martin
In Conversation With
features an interview
between a leader
or figure involved in
public education and
a representative of
the Kentucky School
Advocate.
Mark Martin, who
started his career in
Daviess County Schools,
has been Meade County
superintendent for seven
years. He was recently
named Kentucky
Superintendent of the
Year by the Kentucky
Association of School
Administrators (KASA)
for his unwavering
commitment to students,
visionary leadership,
and belief that every
child deserves access
to high-quality learning
experiences.