Three Fayette County schools are getting new principals this summer

Three elementary schools in Fayette County will be getting new principals this summer.

Coventry Oak, Deep Springs and Garden Springs will all have new leaders, Fayette County Public Schools officials said Wednesday.

Here are the new principals:

Amy Emmons, Coventry Oak

“With 25 years of experience in education and dedicated service to Fayette County Public Schools, Emmons has served as assistant principal at Northern Elementary since 2023. She will begin her new role on July 1,” FCPS officials said in a statement.

Emmons joined the district in 2000, and she worked 16 years at Millcreek and Squires elementary schools before taking a districtwide literacy instructional specialist role. After seven years in that position, she moved to Northern.

“Amy’s service to Fayette County Public Schools makes her an exceptional fit for this role,” said Chief School Leadership Officer Matt Marsh. “Her commitment to guiding principles like collaborative leadership, relationship building, and instructional excellence is evident in her proven ability to drive student achievement and empower staff.”

Emmons has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in Education from Eastern Kentucky University and a literacy specialist degree from UK.

Aulander Daniels, Deep Springs

Daniels has 12 years of education experience, including serving as assistant principal of Coventry Oak Elementary since 2023.

Daniels began with the district in 2014 as a special education paraeducator at Tates Creek Elementary. He continued as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Yates and Coventry Oak elementaries until 2021.

At Coventry Oak, he then worked as an intervention instructor and behavior coach until 2023, when he joined the administrative staff as assistant principal.

“Mr. Daniels is committed to building strong relationships, fostering open communication, and ensuring a collaborative approach with staff. He also brings innovative ideas for engaging families and community members,” said Tiffany Marshall, a chief school leadership officer. “Aulander’s guiding principles for leadership are academic excellence, closing achievement gaps, data-driven decision making, continuous improvement, staff efficiency, and service. These are precisely the pillars needed to support and enhance the critical work at Deep Springs,” she said.

Daniels has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UK, a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of the cumberlands, and a Rank I school administration certification from Western Kentucky University.

Casey Branham, Garden Springs

Branham has more than 15 years of education experience, including five years in assistant principal at Garden Springs.

Branham began her career in 2001 as a substitute teacher, and then a second-grade teacher, at Huntertown Elementary in Woodford County.

After taking time off to be home with her children, she returned to education as a substitute teacher and then a classroom teacher at Southside Elementary in Versailles.

In 2020, Branham moved to Mercer County, where she served as an instructional coordinator. She joined FCPS in 2021.

“Casey has proven herself to be a visionary instructional leader with a deep-seated passion for the Garden Springs community,” said Jennifer Hutchison, a chief school leadership officer. “ Her experience in coaching staff, implementing schoolwide growth strategies, and fostering a collaborative culture makes her the ideal leader to guide Garden Springs into its next chapter.”

Branham has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Midway College, a master’s degree in education from the University of the Cumberlands and an education specialist degree from Asbury University.