Before he died, Manny Caulk talked about endings and the future of Fayette schools

When two local artists began work in the pandemic on a collection of photographs of Fayette County Public Schools employees on the last day of the 2019-2020 academic year, they asked Superintendent Manny Caulk to participate.

In one of the many expressions of sympathy offered since Caulk’s death was announced Friday night, one of the artists, Kremena Todorova, shared on social media how Caulk responded to a project she worked on with collaborator Kurt Gohde.

“Manny Caulk not only instantly said yes, but graciously showed up for a (family) photograph on his day off, Memorial Day,” in front of the old Central Office on East Main Street.

Todorova said Caulk reflected on a school year that, after schools shut down in March for COVID-19, “turned out to be so different from what he and others had planned for.”

He said, in part:

“This ending is bittersweet. Satisfying and uplifting in a different way. I am proud of the many ways our employees have taken care of one another, our students, our families and our community since we closed our doors on March 13. We have learned many lessons, and I believe we will emerge changed for the better, with a stronger resolve to protect the most vulnerable among us., with a greater appreciation for things we have taken for granted. And with a renewed commitment to making the most of the time we have together.”

Caulk, who successfully battled cancer soon after he was hired in 2015, had been on medical leave for about two weeks when he died Friday. His specific cause of death has not been released. School board Chairwoman Stephanie Spires said on behalf of his family that he died after a brief illness.

In his statement for the art project, Lexington in the Time of COVID-19, Caulk also said, “As we close out our last official week of the 2019-2020 school year, it’s easy to focus wistfully on the ways this ending is different. There will be no final bells, no field days, promotion festivities or graduation ceremonies in Rupp Arena.

“But I’ve never been one to take the easy way out. Instead, I’m encouraged by the way this ending amplifies all the good things that the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed — the importance of connection, the power of education to change lives, and the unmatched dedication of Fayette County Public Schools employees.”

Over the weekend, district and school staffs, education groups and others left flowers and notes at the old Central Office on East Main from which administrators and staff recently moved to a new building in north Lexington. On Monday, standing sprays of flowers shaped into wreaths stood on either side of one of the entrances at the East Main building.

One message was from a teacher who thanked Caulk for his dedication. On one column was the word ‘Partner,’ the name he often called staff, students, families and others who worked with him to elevate the district.

Colmon Elridge, chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party, said on social media that Caulk “was an educators superintendent.”

“What I most treasure most about him is how he believed in the power of public education to be a driver for equity,” Elridge said.

“He’s worked all he could; now we all must pick up where he handed off the baton,” said Elridge.

On Sunday night, Acting Superintendent Marlene Helm sent families a message.

“As the FCPS Community continues to mourn the loss of Manny Caulk, our servant superintendent, our focus continues to be student-centered,” she said.

“While many students may not have had a personal relationship with the superintendent, we know that his sudden passing may trigger anxiety or grief for them. This response may be particularly heightened due to the COVID-19 related uncertainty with which we are all faced at this time.”

District officials are offering students who might need mental health help online resources and counseling.

“It is important that we take time to grieve,” Spires said Monday.

“The staff of Fayette County Public Schools will continue to serve our students and families as we grieve the loss of our leader. It is our hope that this great loss will serve as a catalyst for unity and renewed focus on our mission,” Helm said.

The Fayette County Public Schools board held a virtual meeting for a few minutes Monday afternoon but didn’t conduct any business.

Spires said a scholarship fund in Caulk’s memory has been established at the Fayette County Education Foundation.

“Manny did not want the focus to be on him in life or in death, “ Spires said. “Rather he wanted us to focus on the work as well as the children in our community.”

“Even in his final weeks and days, he was working to ensure his colleagues were updated,” Spires said. “He accomplished a lot in a short time here in Fayette County. “

“Our community has lost a huge advocate for our children and a champion for our educators”, said Spires. “Farewell partner.”

A new statement on the district website said Caulk spent his lifetime opening doors of access and opportunity for others.

“Often crediting his sixth grade teacher for changing the trajectory of his life, Manny was devoted to ensuring that all students found a pathway to their unlimited potential through a world-class education,” the website said.

“He was a catalyst for equity and pushed for the reforms needed to ensure that demography does not determine a child’s destiny,” the website said.

“Caulk’s transformative leadership of the Fayette County Public Schools garnered him state and national recognition as one of Education Week’s 2018 “Leaders to Learn From” and Kentucky’s 2019 State Superintendent of the Year,” the website said. “Plans to say our final good-bye and celebrate Manny’s remarkable life and achievements will be announced at a later date.”

This story was originally published December 7, 2020 at 7:40 AM.