Katie Webb accepts position as Superintendent of Lawrence County Schools

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

In a sit-down interview with The Big Sandy News Monday afternoon (July 22), Lawrence County’s new school superintendent talked about her goals, ideas and ambitions for her first year.

Katie Webb, who has been in the educational system for 30 years, is not only the first female superintendent of the LC school system, but also the first one to graduate from the Lawrence County High School and couldn’t be more pleased to have the opportunity step up to this new challenge to further, what she says, has always been her ultimate goal of educating children.

Webb’s mother was an educator, her daughter teaches in the Johnson County School system and her other daughter is in her final year of college studying marketing, so it’s safe to say education has always been an important family trait.

Webb’s educational career consisted of earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Pikeville.

She then completed a Master of Education degree and an Instructional Supervision (Rank 1) degree from Morehead State University.

Webb went on to further her education at Eastern Kentucky University where she obtained a degree in School Leadership Principal and a final degree in School Superintendent.

Before returning to LC in 2021, as Chief Academic Officer, Webb taught for 14 years in both private and public schools. She spent 5 years as the Supervisor of Instruction for Paintsville Independent and 7 years as the Paintsville Elementary School Principal.

Now as Superintendent of Lawrence County Schools, Webb says she intends to spend this first year, as she has each time she has started a new position and that is getting to know who she works with and who she works for. She says she also plans to spend the first year listening and also visiting the schools on a regular basis. “Unless I have a meeting scheduled, my goal is to be in one of the buildings each morning,” said Webb.

Webb said she always wants the board meetings to be accessible to the public and will be looking into ways of making sure parents and caretakers will know how to access online board meetings if they cannot attend. “We want everything to be transparent,” said Webb.

For the past three years her focus has been on instruction and academics, however, even though her major focus will still be on education Webb says that it will also be on a wider variety of roles such as transportation and food among other things the students will need each day. During the interview Webb seemed confident after working at the Lawrence County Board of Education for the past three years and already building relationships with the staff. When Webb started her position July 1 as superintendent, she made the following statement “My vision for our schools is simple: high standards for all, respect for everyone, and giving our best every day,” said Webb. “I’m excited to work with everyone to keep moving Lawrence County and our schools forward. Let’s build on our successes and create even more opportunities for our students, staff and community.”

Webb ended our interview on an unforgettable note saying “May I never forget what it feels like to be a teacher in the classroom and may teachers never forget what it feels like to be a student in the classroom.”