Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Ky., is in negotiations to select H. Brian Yearwood as superintendent of the 97,000-student school district, the largest school system in Kentucky. If his contract is approved, he will succeed Marty Pollio, who is retiring in July after leading the school district since 2017.

From 2021-2024, Yearwood served as the superintendent of the fourth-largest school district in Missouri, Columbia Public Schools. Under his leadership, the district achieved a 16-point increase in its Annual Performance Report score, reaching 86.5 percent.

Yearwood has also served as an assistant superintendent overseeing curriculum, instruction, human resources, and academics, and chief operations officer at Manor Independent School District in Texas. 

Also, naming a new superintendent recently was California’s Fresno Unified School District, which selected Misty Her to take the reins of the state’s third largest school district. Her has served as interim superintendent of the 71,480-student school district since May 2024, succeeding Bob Nelson.

A graduate of the Fresno school system, she began her career in the district over 30 years ago as a bilingual instructional aide. She has worked in Fresno as a teacher, vice principal, principal, instructional superintendent, and deputy superintendent.

Her, who is of Hmong heritage, was born in a Prisoner of War camp in Laos and at the age of five relocated to the United States with her family eventually settling in Fresno.

“Misty Her has spent her career dedicated to the students and families of Fresno Unified, building support within our staff and families because of her unmatched integrity and expertise,” said Valerie Davis, president of the Fresno Unified Board of Education, in a press release. “As an immigrant who came to this country as a child, she understands the reality of so many of our students who must overcome language and cultural barriers.”

Seattle Leader to Step Down

Brent Jones, the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, recently announced he will step down from the 49,226-student school district he has led since 2022. His last day in the state of Washington’s largest school district is Sept.3.

Before being named superintendent, Jones served as interim leader for a year. Prior to that, he served as the district’s chief of equity, partnerships, and engagement and chief of human resources.

During his tenure, voters approved the renewal of two levies, providing funding to support special education, transportation, student safety and wellness programs as well as fund school renovations and replace aging school buildings. Jones also helped the district navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded student support services, and strengthened community partnerships.