Farris among finalists for Fayette superintendent

Clark County Superintendent Elaine Farris is among the top three finalists for the position of superintendent of Fayette County’s public schools.
The school district announced its three finalists today following a meeting last night.
The other two candidates are also current superintendents, Lu Young of Jessamine County, and Tom Shelton of Daviess County.
The one the school board hires will replace Stu Silberman, who is retiring after seven years with the district and will become the new executive of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence in Kentucky.
“It was a tough decision to even make the application, but it was an opportunity that I felt I didn’t want to pass up,” Farris said today.
Farris, who has worked in Fayette County in the last decade as the district director for elementary schools, said it would be a privilege to lead the state’s second largest school district.
She said she is proud of what Clark County’s school district has accomplished in the two years she has been superintendent here, including focusing on “responsibility and accountability” and “increasing expectations of more rigorous classroom instruction.”
The three candidates will interview again next week. Farris’ interview is scheduled for June 9.
Farris, who grew up in Winchester, was the interim state commissioner of education when she took office here on July 1, 2009. She had previously been deputy commissioner, and during her career has been a teacher and principal and held several other administrative positions, including superintendent of Shelby County’s public schools.