Only about 20% of public school superintendents in Kentucky are women, and there’s currently only one minority in that role. Applications are being accepted through August 13th for the Kentucky Department of Education's Minority Superintendent Intern Program.
The program was established nine years ago, and since then, three African Americans have been hired for the top leadership role at different school districts across the state. But there’s still not much diversity among superintendents at Kentucky’s 174 public school districts. Dr. Ann Lyttle-Burns, a principal at Fayette County Public Schools, says that’s not surprising.
"There are very few minority teachers, period, statewide as well as nationwide," she said. "So when you’ve got that few to pick from, it really isn’t surprising that all the way to the top you’ve got even fewer.”
Lyttle-Burns was selected to the internship two years ago and was mentored by Dr. Elaine Farris, Kentucky’s first African American superintendent. She says the program gave her insight into human resources, school board decisions, student achievement, and budgeting.