FCPS Superintendent announces principal of new high school, other key positions

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – While Fayette County’s sixth high school has still not been named, Superintendent Manny Caulk today publicly named the individual who will take the helm of the district’s first new high school in more than 25 years.

Lester Diaz, who has successfully led Bryan Station Middle School since 2012, will be the principal of the new school currently under construction off Winchester Road in northeast Lexington.

“Lester has an exciting vision for the new high school that makes a part of me wish I were back at the school level so I could be a member of the team preparing to welcome students next fall,” Caulk said. “This is a situation where leadership meets opportunity and that is when innovation occurs. I look for this school to be a model of 21^st century learning.”

Diaz, who has 17 years of experience in education, started his career teaching in Miami, FL. He joined the Fayette County Public Schools in 2004, as a science teacher at Lafayette High School, where he also served as an in-school suspension instructor, dean of students, assistant athletic director, and assistant football coach. Diaz was an assistant principal at Henry Clay High School for three years before accepting the head principal’s post at Bryan Station Middle. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science education from Florida International University, and master’s degrees in Instructional Leadership and sports administration, both from Eastern Kentucky University.

Caulk also kept a promise to Lexington’s high school students today, announcing the hiring of a college and career coach for each of the district’s high schools.

Career and College Coaches are:

• Pam Bates, assigned to Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, brings 21 years of professional experience to her new role, most recently as director of academic advising and assessment and completion 2016 coach at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Morehead State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kentucky.
• Vince Bingham, assigned to Henry Clay High School, brings 18 years of professional experience to his new role, most recently as the coordinator for academic enrichment services with the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education GEAR UP Kentucky. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Transylvania University and a master’s degree in educational policy studies and evaluation from the University of Kentucky.
• Kate FitzGerald, assigned to Lafayette High School, brings more than 13 years of professional experience to her new role, most recently as Universities and Community Liaison at The Learning Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Berea College, and a master’s degree and an educational specialist’s degree in education counseling psychology, from the University of Kentucky.
• Marian Granville, assigned to the new high school, brings 17 years of professional experience to her new role, most recently as workforce coordinator/success coach at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in human services from Liberty University.
• Charliese Lewis, assigned to Tates Creek High School, brings more than 15 years of professional experience to her new role, most recently as coordinator for school improvement services, advising & assessment with the Council on Postsecondary Education, GEAR UP Kentucky. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English education from Kentucky State University, a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University, and is working on her doctoral degree in educational policy/evaluation at the University of Kentucky.
• Therron Rogers, assigned to Bryan Station High School, brings four years of professional experience to his new role, most recently as a college and career readiness counselor with the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in education counseling and personal services, both from the University of Louisville and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership in higher education at Bellarmine University.

“Our team just keeps getting stronger with each hire,” Caulk said, while also officially announcing two other key hires at the district’s main office – family and community engagement district coordinator and district world language specialist.

Miranda Scully is the district’s new family and community engagement coordinator, joining FCPS from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, where she was the School and Community Engagement Manager.  Prior to that, Scully worked with the University of Kentucky’s Center for Academic Resources & Enrichment Services (CARES) as an Academic Counselor and Bluegrass Community & Technical College’s Upward Bound Program as Student Development Specialist. Miranda is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work and sociology as well as her master’s degree in social work.

The district’s new world language specialist, Laura Roche’ Youngsworth, has 24 years of experience as a world language teacher, in Covington, Anderson County and Fayette County. She has also held leadership roles as Gifted & Talented Program Coordinator in Anderson County and as District World Languages and Global Competency Content Lead in Fayette County since 2015. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French, English, and secondary education, a master’s degree and rank I in curriculum and instruction and a doctoral degree in administration and instruction.

Scully and Roche’ Youngsworth have already started in their new posts. The six college and career coaches will begin Sept. 6.

A transition plan for Diaz is still being developed.  The School Based Decision Making council at Bryan Station Middle will meet Monday to decide whether to request an interim or begin the process of selecting a permanent replacement.