Boone County educator named 2013 Superintendent of the Year

Randy Poe, superintendent of Boone County Schools, has been selected as the 2013 Kentucky Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

Poe will now compete for the National Superintendent of the Year Award given by the American Association of School Administrators. Poe was presented the award on Nov. 26 during a surprise ceremony at the Longbranch Elementary School where students, faculty, board members and school leaders will gather to congratulate Poe.

Chief Academic Officer/Deputy Superintendent Karen Cheser said in her letter of nomination, “I’ve had the opportunity to work for and with hundreds of supervisors and I can say, unequivocally, that Randy Poe is the best leader I have known.”  She added, “Randy Poe is a rarity; he is a superintendent who epitomizes excellence in all areas on both the business side of education and the instructional side.”

Under Poe’s leadership, the district has excelled using a strategy of college and career readiness while ensuring fiscal and operational effectiveness and efficiency.  In spite of the current economic climate, Boone County is the highest performing, large, diverse district in Kentucky.  The district is in the top 10 for ACT scores and is in the top echelon for college and career readiness both in the state and nationally.  National rankings and state honors continue even though the district is the third largest school district in the state, with large amounts of students with high needs, including 2,300 with disabilities; 1,200 who speak 52 languages collectively; and 7,000 who live in poverty.

Much of Poe’s leadership is driven by his own learning experiences as a child who was unable to read. Poe credits a 7^th grade teacher and an intervention program for turning things around for him.  

Today, Poe, is quick to point out, “It is our duty and calling to get every child on grade level and fully prepared for college and careers in a global society.”

A lifelong learner and leader, Poe earned a bachelor of science, a masters degree in secondary education, rank 1 certification in administration, and is currently completing his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Northern Kentucky University.

 Prior to being named superintendent in 2008, Poe served the Boone County children and community as assistant principal, principal, executive director of technology, and assistant and deputy superintendent

Poe serves in various community, state and national leadership roles. In his community, Poe serves as board member on the NKY Chamber Board of Directors, NKY Chamber Business Advocacy Group, Boone County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Northern Kentucky Education Action Team. On the state and national levels, he is an active member of KASA and the American Association of School Administrators. In addition, he serves as a board member to the National Center for Educational Research and Technology, the Local Superintendent Advisory Council for the Kentucky Commissioner of Education and the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents.

The Superintendent of the Year award is not Poe’s first.  Other honors include the One to One Literacy Award, Kentucky Leads the Nation Roundtable, NKY High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“The best compliment I can give Randy is that he is a work horse, not a show horse.  He has never sought attention or a high profile. Instead, from day one, he just rolled up his sleeves and set about doing the hard work necessary to give all the students in his district an opportunity to succeed. He is passionate and tireless in these efforts and a model for others,” KASA Executive Director and General Counsel Wayne Young said.

In addition to today’s surprise ceremony, Poe will be recognized at the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents winter conference December 4, 2012, at the Galt House Hotel & Suites in Louisville.