Two weeks after naming principal, a Central Ky. district announces she won’t be hired.

Just two weeks after announcing Kristy Field would be the new principal of Woodford County High School, district officials announced Monday night she would not be in that role.

The position has seen significant turnover recently.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are informing you that Dr. Kristy Field will not be the future principal of Woodford County High School. As with all matters of this nature, we are not in a position to address the specifics of this situation,” a district statement said Monday.

“Before signing a contract she declined the position,” Superintendent Danny Adkins told the Herald-Leader Tuesday morning.

The statement said the district would announce Tuesday another name, “a wonderful leader with strong high school experience.”

The district announced mid-morning that Tyler Reed was the new principal of Woodford County High School.

Reed has been the principal of Frankfort High School and worked at schools throughout Central Kentucky.

Under his leadership, Frankfort High School has earned a reputation for educational excellence, being named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, earning a high-performing school status from the Kentucky Department of Education 2021-22 Accountability Measure, and earning Family Friendly School Certification from the Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools, district officials said.

Prior to being principal at Frankfort High School, Reed served as Assistant Principal at Paris High School.

He has served as a special education teacher at East Jessamine High School and Frankfort High School. Reed is also a former swim coach at Lexington’s Bryan Station High School and Frankfort High School.

“We know that Mr. Reed’s educational expertise and dedication to family engagement will serve the students, staff members, and families of Woodford County High School in a significant and powerful way,” the district statement said.

Field could not immediately be reached for comment.

Less than a year ago, Woodford County High principal Morgan Howell agreed to step down to a teaching position, amid a community protest demanding that he continue to lead Woodford County High School.

Morgan Howell’s fight to remain principal began in late April 2022, when Adkins told him he would be demoted. Students and others protested in front of the school in early May, saying Howell should remain as principal.

Interim principal Jake Bell has had the position since.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

This story was originally published May 2, 2023 at 7:24 AM.