LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some parents want the next superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools to understand the complexity of the state's largest school district.

Last September, Dr. Marty Pollio announced his plans for retire July 1, 2025. The search is now on for the next superintendent as applications are open. 

Earlier this week, the district’s Superintendent Search Advisory Committee discussed key qualities they hope to see like a person who understands Louisville's diversity, a focus on closing the achievement gap and a leader who will reach out when help is needed. 

Parents, students and community members had the chance to share what qualities matter most to them for the school district's leader on Saturday. The Academy @ Shawnee and Ballard High School hosted community forums.

"We want to make sure that we hear from as many voices as possible in selecting the next superintendent," said Gail Logan Strange, Jefferson County Board of Education District 1 representative. "By going to each district, hearing from those parents, it gives us insight into the kind of person that we want, the skills that we want." 

JCPS formed the Superintendent Search Advisory Committee to guide Hazard Young Attea Associates, a search firm asked to help hire Pollio's replacement. 

Micah Ali, who works for the search firm, led the discussions with parents, students and community members. Michelle Pennix spoke during the discussion at Shawnee.

Pennix is a former JCPS principal and both children went through JCPS. She said it's important for the new superintendent to be innovative and bring new ideas to the school district. 

"It's important to have someone who is very transparent and an effective communicator, but not one who is just charismatic, but one who can also bring people to the table and sit down and have honest conversations about what needs to happen in our district," Pennix said. 

Students at Ballard said they want their challenges to be understood.

"What a superintendent needs to have is a good sense of empathy and knowing what other people are going through, knowing how their lifestyle goes," said Evan Gracious, a freshman at Ballard. "They should know how to adapt to certain people and different environments." 

Ballard sophomore Dinah Condra agreed with Gracious that empathy was important for the role.

"To know that not everyone comes from the same background, that brings up diversity, equity and giving everyone a voice and not just some people who are maybe similar to the superintendent," Condra said. "Giving opportunities to everyone no matter who they are and where they come from." 

Some parents believe its important for the next superintendent to understand the historical context of the school district.

"Somebody that understands the historical value of where our schools have come from and where they're going," said Aprile Hearn. "The perfect superintendent is probably already employed by JCPS, somebody who knows the history of our schools, the educational culture of our schools. But also somebody who understands the disparities of our schools in the west end." 

Academic success remains the top focus for the future leader of JCPS. 

"Everything that we've include is important but nothing is more important than why parents send kids to school in the first place, which is why to read, write and do math," Pennix said. "More than anything, the community and parents want kids who are educated well." 

Strange would like to hear from more parents as the search continues.

"What's most important is that we continue to value education," Strange said. "That we make sure our children are improving in every aspect, that the achievement gap for Black and brown students continues to close."

JCPS would like to have a new superintendent in place by May to allow for transition time with Pollio before his departure on July 1. Pollio has led JCPS since 2017.

For more information, such as the superintendent search timeline, click here.

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