‘Accomplished; exemplary.’ Fayette school board evaluates superintendent’s 1st year.

Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins on Monday received ratings of either exemplary or accomplished in nine different areas on his first year’s evaluation.

“We understand that progress requires intentional action, time, and patience and we believe Dr. Liggins embraces that challenge with passion and commitment,” School Board Chairman Tyler Murphy said. “There is much work ongoing and we are optimistic to see the continued positive impact this work will have on the students and families we serve.”

Possible ratings included: ineffective, developing, accomplished, or exemplary.

The overall results of the evaluation adopted for Liggins were exemplary ratings for budget/finance, school safety/climate, leadership and culture, and board relations.

Accomplished ratings were given for human resources, teaching/learning, equity and student achievement, management, communications, and public engagement.

In response, Liggins credited others in the district.

“Although my name is on the evaluation, I cannot do this work alone,” he said. “I want to thank the Team of Six for their support and for allowing my leadership team and I to be visionary, to dream big, and to think outside of the box.”

The Team of Six is what the superintendent and school board call the six of them working together.

In the evaluation, school board members included some “growth areas” and made some requests, including asking for updates on the impact of federal COVID-19 fund expenditures.

In the area of staffing, the evaluation said, “we would like to see more intentional efforts to ensure staffing positions within schools are utilized effectively and efficiently to support a more favorable learning environment for students and staff.”

District officials said in a news release that with an official start date of July 26, 2021, Liggins joined the Fayette County Public Schools just as COVID cases were surging due to the Delta variant.

“Prioritizing the health and safety of students, employees, and families while following current science and recommendations from health experts, Liggins worked diligently to ensure students experienced the joys, benefits, and supports of uninterrupted in-person instruction,” the release said

“His innovative approach included partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies to implement best practices deliberately and consistently, and his weekly communication with employees and families demonstrated transparency and a commitment to dialogue,” officials said.

Murphy said that Liggins is a skilled communicator with the ability to translate his focus and vision into meaningful action and outcomes.

“Our Board of Education team acknowledges both the accomplishments and progress Superintendent Demetrus Liggins has made in his first year in Fayette County Public Schools,” said Murphy. “The adoption of Dr. Liggins’ 2021-2022 summative evaluation recognizes his skills, his efforts, and the collaborative, supportive culture he has established in his first year as superintendent.”