LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Jefferson County Public Schools has named officially announced their selection to lead the district.
Dr. Marty Pollio, who was currently serving as acting superintendent, was chosen to take the head position after 5-hours of talks during a JCPS Board meeting Sunday.
Pollio held the acting post for nearly 8 months after Dr. Donna Hargens’ vacated the post in May.
“Dr. Pollio stepped in to lead our district on an interim basis during a very difficult time,” JCBE Board Chair Diane Porter said in a statement. “During the past eight months, he’s brought stability, reenergized our district and focused our priorities on what our schools and staff need to make all students successful. I know his leadership at JCPS will be student-centered, student-focused and student-driven, which is just what our district needs.”
Dr. Michael Raisor, who serves as the district’s chief operating officer, was also in the running for the top post.
After more than four hours behind closed doors in executive session, the JCPS Board of Education voted unanimously to confirm Pollio as the new superintendent, with board members touting his experience and his enthusiasm.
"Over the past eight months, he's shown he can steady the ship, he can drive change and he can make us smile along the way," Board Chair Diane Porter said.
"'I love my job. I'm really, really good at it. And I'm going to save your child,'" Linda Duncan said of Pollio's promise before the school year. "That rang throughout this district like nothing I've heard before."
"I would be lying if I said a year ago today I thought I would be the next superintendent when it opened up, so I think the experience I had helped me a lot during this process," Pollio said.
Pollio is no stranger to the district. He started out as a social studies teacher at Shawnee and later going on to serve in roles as teacher and assistant principal at Waggner High School. Pollio also served as principals at Jeffersontown High from 2007-2015 and at Doss High.
He took a leave of absence from his principal duties to serve as acting superintendent.
Pollio said one of his focuses will be on creating a culture among the schools in JCPS centered around his "Backpack of Skills" initiative and his goal of turning JCPS into a model for other school districts around the country. He said he has been most pleased with the support he has seen surrounding the district since he's taken over.
"I don't go anywhere without anyone telling me, someone in JCPS telling me that there's a new sense of pride in JCPS," he said. "I'm sure it'll hit me later tonight, but right now, so much is going through my mind about what we have to do. Just got to get back to work."
Terms of Pollio’s contract were not yet available.
His appointment marks the 6th superintendent since the merger.
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