The national school superintendent of the year is from Kentucky. Meet Rob Clayton

Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton on Friday was selected as the Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents.

“We value our people; we know that our people are going to determine the level of success for our students and in turn, our students’ success impacts our greater community. It’s special to be in a position to work with such dedicated professionals who are truly committed to our kids,” Clayton said in a Warren County Schools news release.

Clayton has been superintendent of Warren County Public Schools) since 2013. Warren County is the 4th largest and fastest-growing public school district in Kentucky, the news release said.

In nine years as superintendent of Warren County, he supervised a 25% growth of students to over 18,000 students, pre-K through grade 12, officials said.

More than $200 million of capital improvements were made under Clayton’s leadership, including three new elementary schools and major athletic renovations at all four high schools. Under his tenure, the district has grown its workforce to almost 3,000 employees for the district’s 15 elementary schools, four middle, four high schools and five alternative schools.

Clayton also oversaw the establishment of the state of Kentucky’s first international high school, Geo International High School. In addition, under his leadership, Warren County opened the first Computer Science Immersion Elementary School in Kentucky, established the Beacon Virtual Academy and Jackson Academy Alternative Elementary schools, and established the state of Kentucky’s most energy-efficient school district since 2021 through the Guaranteed Energy Savings Program, the news release said.

He was described as a “model of uncompromising dedication to student achievement” by Selection Panel Member and former National Association of School Superintendents Superintendent of the Year, Jim Capolupo.

“Rob Clayton is known for his ardent commitment to academic excellence in his district, county, and state,” Capolupo said in a news release from that organization.

Clayton was also named the Kentucky 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 2:46 PM.