What to know about JCPS: Kentucky’s largest school district
An overview of Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky’s largest district, highlighting student population, student diversity and more.
After two days of interviews with six candidates, Jefferson County Board of Education members have selected two finalists vying for the spot to run Kentucky’s largest school system: Ben Shuldiner and H. Brian Yearwood.
Neither candidate has worked for Jefferson County Public Schools.
Shuldiner is the current superintendent of the Lansing School District in Michigan, which serves about 10,000 students who are predominantly minorities from impoverished households.
“He has over 25 years of experience transforming education as a teacher, principal, professor, school board member, and superintendent,” a release from JCPS states, adding that he has boosted graduation rates for the district by 26%.
Additionally, the release notes, under his leadership, the district earned Michigan’s highest reading growth scores between 2022 and 2024.
Shuldiner was also recently identified as a finalist for a superintendent position in Las Vegas by the same search firm JCPS hired for this superintendent search.
He was one of four finalists identified in February by Hazard Young Attea and Associates in the search for the next leader of Clark County School District — which has more than 300,000 students — but was ultimately not chosen by the Las Vegas-area district’s board.
Yearwood most recently served as the superintendent of Columbia Public Schools in Missouri, which has nearly 19,000 students. He led the district from 2021-24, when he announced he was retiring to move closer to family in Texas, according to The Columbia Daily Tribune.
Yearwood began his education career as a teacher before transiting into administration three years later, according to JCPS’ release. He also served as an assistant superintendent at Manor Independent School District in Texas.
“Both individuals have a wealth of experiences and credentials that have prepared them for a leadership opportunity such as the superintendency of JCPS presents,” Board chair Corrie Shull in the release. “Both individuals are capable of elevating student learning in our district, ensuring students continue to excel and our district will continue to flourish.”
Initially, there were 34 applicants for the position, according to Hazard Young Attea Associates.
The goal is to hire one of the candidates before Marty Pollio’s last day on June 30. The pair will answer questions from community members during two separate forums on Tuesday, May 20.
Want to meet the JCPS superintendent finalists?
Two forums open to the community will be on Tuesday, May 20. The first will be held at the JCPS Center for Professional Learning, 3903 Atkinson Square Drive, from 4-6 p.m.
The second forum will be at Stopher Elementary School, 14417 Aiken Road, from 7-9 p.m.
Krista Johnson covers education and children. Have story ideas or questions? Contact her at kjohnson3@gannett.com and subscribe to her newsletter.
This story was updated to add a video.
