Kelley Crain leaving school post to accept Fayette County position

This afternoon in a called board meeting, Kelley F. Crain announced her resignation from her current position as superintendent of Fleming County Schools. Ms. Crain announced that she “feels blessed to have spent the last 19 years (5 years as a high school mathematics teacher, 7 years in various administrative roles including network administrator, federal programs coordinator, and finance officer and 7 years as superintendent) working along side so many great staff, parents, community members, board members and students in Fleming County toward the goal of achieving our mission of uniting with family and community to provide an equitable, high quality education that meets the needs of each student in a caring and safe learning environment, to ensure that students become successful throughout life.”

Ms. Crain is leaving the Fleming County School District to take a position with Fayette County Public Schools as Director of Middle Schools. She expressed that while a part of her is saddened to leave the Fleming County Schools team that she is excited and eager to step into her new role with Fayette County Public Schools. Ms. Crain added that in Fayette County Public School District every decision made -- from the board room to the classroom – is based upon doing what’s best for the kids. That is the same “Kids First” culture and philosophy that has been her highest priority and that she has nurtured in the Fleming County School District.

Crain added that she has been faced with some tough decisions, as all superintendents are, during her 7 years in her current position and that she can say with pride that each decision has been made in the best interest of the students of Fleming County Schools. She also said that she is confident that the energy and “Kids First” philosophy that new Fleming County board members Mike Ishmael and John Hyatt have brought to the board will serve Fleming County schools well as they work with other dedicated members of the board to select a new superintendent to lead Fleming County Schools.

Full details of the transition will be announced soon.

Crain is Superintendent of the Year

Kelly Crain named Superintendent of Year by Ky. Educational Development Corporation

“Kids are First and Learning Never Ends” is the north star of Fleming County Schools. Ms. Kelley Crain, Superintendent, leads the district with this philosophy every single day. She walks the walk through her own professional growth (pursuit of her doctorate being the latest evidence), facilitation of leadership book studies, and innovative professional development initiatives. The Fleming County Schools newsletter is even called “Kids First” and features staff members who are “Caught Putting Kids First”.

Ms. Crain has a strong focus on excellent customer service. She reminds staff that each person is the district’s best public relations representative, whether they are interacting with students, peers, parents and community members at school or out in public. She frequently offers learning opportunities during staff and leadership meetings, and goes out of her way to model outstanding customer service. She holds up the characters described in the book The Fred Factor as exemplars of the kind of customer service she expects of Fleming County staff. Those who achieve this expectation are featured in staff newsletter articles called “Fred Sightings”.

Since Ms. Crain became Superintendent of Fleming County Schools in 2002, there have been many positive changes. She implemented the Kids First Plan focusing on instruction, assessment, time, and culture as a vehicle for improvement. The CATS accountability index had risen from 65.4 to 82.5 and reduced novice nearly 13 points. The high school dropout rate has seen a decrease from 5.20 to 1.06. Other successful programs include renovation of Fleming County High School, a six-year Reading First grant that resulted in KCCT reading scores above 100, and implementation of “Kids First University”, a summer professional learning academy for staff.

Ms. Crain’s leadership philosophy has had a positive impact on the staff and the students of Fleming County Schools. Consider this quote from Ms. Susan Ramey, Reading Coach, Ewing Elementary; “Ms. Crain has skillfully guided Fleming County Schools from struggling to a high level of accomplishment. Her willingness to adopt new research-based initiatives has allowed us to become successful in many areas. She understands the needs of teachers, students, and parents and takes each one into consideration as she makes tough decisions. Ms. Crain has focused on reaching out to involve parents and community businesses in an effort to help our students reach proficiency. Our technology has progressed to a level where we not only have modern computer labs, but each classroom is equipped with some of the newest educational equipment available. I personally appreciate her strong support of the Reading First initiative we received at our school five years ago. Her encouragement and dedication to raising the reading level of every student in Fleming County has given us the very support we needed to succeed.”