LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Robbie Fletcher still has two months left as Superintendent of Lawrence County Schools. However, once he becomes the Kentucky Department of Education commissioner, he doesn't want to stay in Frankfort. Instead, he'd rather see you at an academic team meet or underneath the Friday night lights.
"You never know. You may see me show up for a football game," Fletcher said, "I'm a big fan."
He takes the top job in Kentucky education on July 1, though his climb up the ladder began when he taught math and science, then moved on to principal.
"Leaving the classroom was the toughest decision I ever made," he recalled, "but each step that you take away from the classroom you have the opportunity to make decisions that affect all students."
Including students in the largest district in the state. While the state eyes an audit that could lead to splitting up JCPS, Fletcher insists KDE's role is helping the existing district.
"So my approach would be to work with Superintendent Pollio right off the bat," Fletcher said.
On the district's bus issues, he found driver pay is fair, but acknowledged difficulties recruiting more drivers. Like with teachers, Fletcher wants to enhance communication around the importance and dignity of each job.
While he praises the latest education funding passed by Frankfort legislators, he wants the money to keep flowing until Kentucky teachers rank at least top-10 nationwide for pay.
"It may be the best education budget I've seen in my time, but I will always ask for more resources," Fletcher assured.
He also supports universal pre-K across the state and respecting trans student pronouns.
"If a teacher has worked with a parent; has worked with a student—I do, I respect that—whether I agree with it or not, that's irrelevant, but I try to make sure the student feels comfortable in my classroom," Fletcher said.
He does oppose a constitutional amendment coming to ballots this November that would let charter schools take state money. Personally, he said he'll vote no.
"If it's voted on by the people of the Commonwealth, and they say 'we want this to happen,' then as a public servant, I'll do my best to work with the state legislature and KDE to make it sure it's implemented as best as possible," Fletcher promised.
While the interim commissioner protected Nelson County Superintendent Wes Bradley's job after the Nelson County Board of Education voted him out, Fletcher is considering a management audit of the district with the "goal to help Nelson County mend."
As Fletcher begins weighing new decisions, he's thankful for the students back home in Eastern Kentucky. "Now, a couple of 'em said, 'will you sign my diploma next year?'" the Lawrence County superintendent recalled. "I said, 'I don't think I can,' but I wanna thank the kids of Lawrence County because they've given me such respect for the past 10 years that I'm not sure I always deserved, but it is appreciated."
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