Matt Moore was officially named Jessamine County Schools’ new superintendent at the end of the Jessamine County School Board meeting Monday night.

“I’m absolutely honored to have this opportunity,” Moore said. “And also very excited to get started on the work.”

During his 25-year career with Jessamine County Schools, Moore has taken on several roles such as director of special programs, a teacher at both elementary and high school levels, coach of the district boys varsity soccer team and as Deputy Superintendent-Chief of Staff since 2012.

Moore also served as an officer in the Army Reserves and Kentucky National Guard from 1985-2008.

He received two undergraduate degrees from the University of Kentucky, one in special education and one in elementary education. He completed his Master’s degree in elementary education at Georgetown College.

He also completed his Director of Special Education Certification and his Superintendent Certification at the University of Kentucky.

Moore said his past experiences will help him succeed in his new role.

“I’ve had really good mentors throughout my career, from the classroom to deputy superintendent,” he said. “And one thing that I feel like all of my supervisors have done is given me the opportunity to be exposed to a lot of things going on in education and to take the lead in particular areas.” 

Moore said he plans to continue refining the work that has already been done with the schools strategic visioning, which is geared toward making sure that students are life and work ready through academics, soft skills and employability skills.

As Moore takes on his new role, he said he looks forward to working with the staff, teachers and leadership in Jessamine County Schools.

“I believe the board has a really good vision for what they see the school needing and it really is in line with all the work that we’re doing,” he said. “So I would describe the system and the direction we’re going right now as truly seamless.”

Moore said with any new position comes challenges, especially when there are as many students and staff as there are in Jessamine County Schools, but with the resources and structures that are in place, they will be dealt with as they come.

“I am going to do everything I can to ensure that we’re providing the best services for our students in the community,” Moore said.

Before Moore was officially named as superintendent, several other items were addressed at the school board meeting Monday night.

• Nicholasville Mayor  Pete Sutherland along with commissioners Betty Black and Patty Teater presented school board members and other school leaders with keys to the city for their recent roles in Jessamine County being recognized as a Work Ready Community.

“We are really excited about the future. We’re excited about working with our school system and we’re grateful to have you all and the foresight that you have,” Sutherland said. “And we look forward to many years of cooperation and some great successes.”

• Among the many consent items that the board approved were two donations made to JCS. A $4,000 donation was made by the Jessamine Educational Foundation to allow Jessamine County Schools to participate in the annual Arts Walk. A donation of $7,000 was made by the Nicholasville Presbyterian Church to help pay for school supplies for students in need.

• The board approved an agreement with KY Orthopedic Rehabilitation, LLC to provide athletic trainer services.

• Revisions to the district Coaches’ Handbook were approved, and include reporting requirements for victims of human trafficking, required notifications for a security breach, reporting requirements for acts of domestic violence and abuse and dating violence and abuse, reporting requirements for situations that are threatening harassing or endangering the safety of others, required training expectations for all coaches and non-faculty coaches and procedures for concussions.

• The second reading for the Kentucky School Board Association Annual Policy updates was approved.

• The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nicholasville City Commission to share instances of domestic violence. Jessamine County Schools received a grant to address the challenges students face when involved in adverse childhood experiences or traumas. The MOU allows the Nicholasville Police Department to share addresses associated with reported instances of domestic violence. This information will allow school counselors to determine if students from Jessamine County Schools reside at those addresses and if intervention should be provided.

• Revisions were made to the Singleton Support Staff Salary Schedule in the form of the maintenance assistant and maintenance assistant courier positions being removed from the Singleton Support Staff Salary Schedule and a General Maintenance Assistant being adopted, effective on July 1, 2017. The position of a migrant recruiter was added to the schedule as well. 

• The board approved that the new Diesel Mechanics Center, located at 501 East Maple Street, be officially named in honor of former chairmen of the Jessamine County School Board Eugene S. Peel.