Brett W. Johnson will become the 19th superintendent of Harlan County Public Schools on July 1.
Meeting in special session today, the Harlan County Board of Education conducted interviews of three finalists for the position.
Following an approximate three-hour meeting, with most of that being in executive session to conduct the interviews, the board voted unanimously to award Johnson a four-year contract.
“To say that I am humbled to be selected as Harlan County’s next superintendent would be an understatement," said Johnson shortly after learning of the board’s decision. “To be able to give back to the district that has shaped and molded me is the highest honor.”
“I am ready to roll up my sleeves and keep this district moving forward. Harlan County Public Schools is home to me. I am excited to have this opportunity,” said Johnson.
Johnson, a 1995 graduate of James A. Cawood High School, will follow Brent D. Roark who announced last year that he would not seek a new contract and retire on June 30. He will complete the second of two four-year contracts on that date. Roark will serve as a consultant for three months during the transition.
Board of Education Chairman Gary Farmer said, “I want to compliment our screening committee. They did an excellent job screening the candidates and recommended three topnotch candidates for interviews. All three candidates we interviewed would have been an excellent superintendent for our district. However, we elected to go with Mr. Johnson and his overall knowledge of the school district. We think he will make an excellent superintendent. We look forward to him starting his term as superintendent. Mr. Roark’s shoes are going to be hard to fill.”
The search for the district’s next superintendent was facilitated by the Kentucky School Boards Association and drew nearly a dozen applicants from in and out of the Commonwealth. The six-member screening committee narrowed the list to three, with invitations sent to the finalists for Monday’s interviews with the full board of education.
Johnson is a current assistant superintendent and director of pupil personnel. He has been DPP since 2007 and serves as the Free/Reduced Application Management coordinator, coordinator for Kentucky Educator Credentialing System and Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship Coordinator.
When he became assistant superintendent in 2020, he also took on the role of virtual learning administrator.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Kentucky, Master of Arts in middle school curriculum, a Rank I in School Administration and Supervisory of Instruction from Union College (Union Commonwealth University) and the Director of Pupil Personnel and the superintendent certification from the University of the Cumberlands.
“Mr. Johnson’s greatest strength is his unique combination of intelligence, competitive nature and a deep-rooted love of Harlan County Public Schools,” said Roark after learning of the board’s decision Monday afternoon.
“Mr. Johnson is passionate about seeing Harlan County students be successful in all academic and athletic endeavors,” Roark said.
He added that “I began working with Mr. Johnson 23 years ago at Hall Elementary School. Since then I have watched him excel at every role he has been assigned from football coach to assistant superintendent. Mr. Johnson fully understands the commitment of both time and effort which will be required in order to keep this district moving in a positive direction.”
He has served on the district Facilities Planning Committee, an interim principal, and leads the Non- Traditional Instruction program for the district.
Johnson has served as football coach for the middle school program and assisted with the high school team. He previously served as an assistant coach at Cawood High School.
In addition to his work in the school system, Johnson is an ordained bishop through the Church of God, Cleveland, TN., and an adult Sunday School teacher at the Cawood Church of God. member of the Pactus Harlan County Lions Club, holding the office of vice president. He is a member of the Harlan District Court FAIR Team since its inception in 2015.
Johnson and his wife, Tabatha, have two children, Brett Wes Johnson and Kennedy Hensley and son-in-law Jacob Hensley, and a granddaughter, Oaklee. He is the son of Janet Johnson and the late Bill Johnson.