Hopkins County Schools Superintendent Amy Smith announced in January that she will retire at the end of the school year. Hopkins County Board of Education has selected Kentucky School Leadership Associates to conduct the search process.

Position Posting

February

• February 6 – Organizational Meeting
• February 11 – Post Position
• February 17-28 – Conduct Screening Committee Elections (KRS 160.352)

March

• March 3 – Board Meeting – Closed Session (KRS 61.810(f))
• March 10-28 – Online Survey Conducted
• March 11 – Screening Committee Organizational Meeting Online
• March 17 – Deadline for Applications at 11:59 p.m. CT
• March 24 – First Screening Committee Work Session

April

• April 7 – Second Screening Committee Work Session
• Week of April 14 – Interviews – Closed Sessions (KRS 61.810(f))

Tentative and Subject to Change

Dear Hopkins County Schools Community,

As we begin our search for a new superintendent, the Hopkins County Board of Education is seeking your valuable input. We have launched an online survey to gather feedback from certified staff, classified staff, parents, and community members regarding the most important qualities for our next school leader. Your participation in this survey is crucial to our search process. The Board is committed to hearing from as many voices as possible to help us make the best decision possible. Your responses will help shape the profile of our ideal candidate by ranking and prioritizing the traits, skills, and characteristics our next superintendent needs to possess to lead our district successfully. All the listed qualities you will see are important, but which qualities do you feel we should consider most important? While limits are placed on the length of the message (200 characters or less), there is an opportunity to share brief comments you encourage the Board to consider as we proceed. 

To access, please visit: Hopkins County Superintendent Survey. It will remain open until March 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. CDT. 

Thank you for your commitment to Hopkins County Schools and for taking the time to contribute to this important decision-making process.

Sincerely,

The Hopkins County Board of Education

For Immediate Release

March 7, 2025

Hopkins County Board of Education Announces Progress in Superintendent Search

The Hopkins County Board of Education has announced progress in the search process for a new superintendent to be in place at the start of the upcoming school year.  As required by state law, a committee has been established to begin the screening process and make recommendations to the Board on top candidates for consideration.

The members of the committee are as follows: - Kacey Evans; Certified Representative, Grapevine Elementary, - Jennie Knight; Certified Representative, West Hopkins School, - Cassie Nelson; Parent Representative, Grapevine Elementary, - John Osborne; Board Member Representative, - Wendy Eaves; Principal Representative, West Broadway Elementary, - Rachel Grace; Classified Staff Representative, Grapevine Elementary.

Each member was chosen by members of their distinct role groups, with the Board only choosing their representative as directed by Kentucky statute. The committee will play a crucial role in the search process, including reviewing all applications, conducting reference checks, and providing recommendations to the Board regarding candidates for final interviews.

In addition to forming the screening committee, the Board has launched a school and community engagement initiative. A survey is being conducted to gather input from staff, parents, and community members regarding the most important qualities the new superintendent should possess. The survey can be accessed at Hopkins County Superintendent Survey or the Hopkins County Schools website. It will remain open until March 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

The Board encourages all members of the Hopkins County community to participate in the survey.  This input is extremely valuable in shaping the profile for the ideal superintendent candidate.

"The Board has directed that a thorough and transparent search process be conducted,” said search consultant Owens Saylor. "The formation of the screening committee and the community survey are vital steps in ensuring they select the best candidate to lead the district forward."

For more information about the superintendent search process or to access the community survey, please visit the Hopkins County Board of Education website at www.hopkins.kyschools.us.

For all related communications:
Owens Saylor
Search Consultant
Hopkins County Board of Education
(859) 684-0190
owens.saylor@gmail.com

For Immediate Release
April 11, 2025

Superintendent Screening Committee Recommends Candidates to Board

The Hopkins County Board of Education accepted the recommendation of the six-member screening committee to interview four candidates seeking to become the superintendent of schools. Search consultant Owens Saylor said that the work of the screening committee was exceptional. “This group did the most comprehensive vetting work I have seen in my experience. They were thoughtful, thorough, honest, and very open in assessing each candidate’s potential to be successful. Ultimately, the Board agreed that the committee had recommended a worthy slate of candidates.” 

Saylor also shared results from the staff and community survey administered in March, which called for stakeholder input on the essential qualities of the next leader. 556 responses were submitted. 

The most desired qualities included integrity and moral character, caring for students and staff, ensuring safety and empathy, holding high expectations, being supportive of employees, effective communication skills, showing support for innovation, and being highly visible in the schools and community. The Board is using the results as they move into the interview phase.

Saylor added, “Hopkins County is blessed to have a school board that cares deeply about the vital decisions they make. They have consistently shared how important it will be to find the leader who can build on the great things happening in the schools and the importance of choosing a leader who will put students and staff first in everything they do.”

Finalist interviews will be conducted during the week of April 15. 

Contact:

Owens Saylor, Search Consultant

KY School Leadership Associates

owens@kysla.org

owens.saylor@gmail.com

859-684-0190

May 5, 2025, News Release