A person with experience in helping lead large school districts in New England is coming to head Kentucky's second largest school system. Manny Caulk got the nod during a special Fayette County board meeting this past weekend.
The 43-year-old Caulk comes to Lexington from Portland Maine where he headed the state's largest school district.
Fayette County School Board Chair John Price says Caulk is energetic, dynamic, and shows a passion for students. Price says Caulk has experience as a classroom teacher. "Teachers like to work with a person who has been a teacher. They feel like a superintendent who's been a teacher understands what it's like to be in a classroom," said Price.
An official start date for Caulk has not been set, but, according to Price, he's committed to being in Lexington before school starts August 12th.
Price says Caulk has a history of improving student achievement. "I think he has a sort of an attitude that's just very infectious which I think can help us change our culture and get us all on the same page which I think is gonna be key to us getting to where we need to go," added Price.
But, John Price says Caulk is not predicting immediate change. "He's been able to impact student achievement and he told us and the community that there won't be an instant fix because it took us some time to get into the situation we're in and will take some time to get the situation corrected," said Price.
Caulk takes over for interim superintendent Marlene Helm who led the district after Tom Shelton resigned at the end of 2014 to take a job with the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents. ?
