LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Doug Bennett, director of instruction for the Whitley Board of Education, was named the new superintendent of the Laurel County School District Friday morning. The Laurel County Board of Education has hired Bennett on a  four-year contract.

“There were such good candidates. We believe we have picked the best candidate because of his past experiences and that he will lead us to where we want to be,” said Charles “Bud” Stuber, board chairman. “We have the cast to do this, we just need this leadership to get us over the hump.”

Bennett will begin his term as superintendent on July 1, 2012 as the district says goodbye to Interim Superintendent Ronald “Sonny” Fentress as he completes his 2011-12 school year term.

“I’ll finish up and turn it over to the next administration,” Fentress said. “I retired in 2005 in Anderson County and this is the seventh interim since then. There’s a good book that says you take one day at a time -- we’ll see what happens.”

Through his professional experiences in the Whitley County District for 20 years, Bennett said he will carry that knowledge onward to commit to Laurel County a leadership that will bring them to the top among the state academically.

“The experiences I’ve had there (in Whitely County) and the training, I think will be very applicable to Laurel County Schools,” he said.

Bennett is currently completing his doctorate degree at the University of the Cumberlands with his dissertation’s focus on education leadership.  He obtained his bachelor’s degree at the University of the Cumberlands and master’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and Union College.  He aspires to improve student’s knowledge of fractions and develop a program based upon e-learning.  

“Math is typically an area of difficulty for students to learn and teachers to teach,” he said.

Bennett has experience in the classroom as a high school Advanced Placement Spanish and senior class level English teacher. He has also served as a guidance counselor, principal of Whitley North Elementary and wrestling coach at Whitley County High School.

Bennett said he will relocate to Laurel County with his wife and three children.  

“I feel very strong with your leadership, and those components with the people we have on board, the district can definitely go to the top, and I’m excited for that,” said Lola Reed, board member.  

“I look forward to working together and I think maybe he’s the answer to where we need to go. Hopefully, he is,” said Randy Leger, assistant superintendent.  “We do have good staff and I think he will fit in well.”



mmccrarey@sentinel-echo.com