Fayette principal named new school superintendent in nearby town. What we know

A Lexington elementary school principal on Wednesday night was hired as the superintendent of Danville Independent schools.

Greg Ross, principal for Fayette County Public Schools’ The Academy for Leadership at Millcreek Elementary, will be the new superintendent of the Danville Independent School District, starting July 1. Danville is about an hour away from Lexington.

The Board of Education received 19 applications for the position of superintendent. The superintendent screening committee recommended four candidates to the board, which the board narrowed down to two finalists, a statement from the Danville school district said.

Danville board members in a video announcement described Ross as “solid” and said the Danville Independent district has about 1,900 students.

Fayette district officials did not immediately respond to a question about how they will move ahead in replacing Ross at Millcreek.

“I am beyond excited about my appointment as Superintendent of Danville Independent Schools,” Ross said in a statement to the Herald-Leader Thursday. “This is such a historic time, and I am honored to be a part of Danville’s history. Danville has a historical value like no other town in Kentucky... the will, determination and grit of those memories are not gone nor forgotten.”

“I am so excited to not only continue the level of excellence historically seen in Danville, but build on it with the continuation of excellence in every area of human endeavor,” said Ross. “From the arts to athletics, with academics being our rock, excellence is a non-negotiable. We will do great things,.... together.”

Ross’ prior roles include Director of the Division of Next Generation Professionals for the Kentucky Department of Education; Principal for Paducah Independent Schools, where he served as assistant principal at Morgan Elementary and principal at McNabb Elementary; and a teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools and Paducah Independent Schools, the statement said.

He served as the 2013-14 director of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Minority Superintendent Program, guiding superintendents throughout the state.

The Danville district website said the interim superintendent is currently Elmer Thomas.

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 11:36 AM.