Says superintendent has been a “champion for the district”
July 11, 2023 - Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio has done a great job advocating for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), its students and staff according to the Jefferson County Board of Education’s annual evaluation of Pollio’s job performance. The board rated Pollio’s performance “exemplary” in three categories and “accomplished” in the other four.
“I’m gratified that the board believes in my leadership and what our team is doing to educate every child in JCPS,” Pollio said.
The board cited Pollio’s “aggressive agenda this year to make major changes” including new school start times, a 10-year facility plan, staff salary increases and a more equitable way to fund schools as examples of his positive leadership. The review said Pollio’s needs-based budgeting model is “innovative, data-driven, bold and demonstrates a deep understanding of and commitment to what will be required to improve outcomes for all students.”
The evaluation highlighted Pollio’s “clear commitment to a strategic vision” and “demonstrated thoughtfulness” toward improving student learning through data-driven initiatives like the new district-wide reading and math curriculum. It also pointed to the district’s innovative efforts to hire and retain teachers and other staff during a personnel shortage, calling the retention rate for African American teachers “remarkable and demonstrates a clear commitment to and strategy for increasing diversity among teachers.”
Pollio was began his JCPS career 1997 as a social studies teacher, became a high school principal then moved into the superintendent’s office in 2017 on an interim basis before being named to the permanent job in 2018.
“We’ve been through alot of challenges in the past five years,” Pollio said. “But I believe we have the systems and people now in place to produce student outcomes like we may have never seen before.”
Board members also applauded the implementation of an innovative safety plan and Pollio’s response to their concerns about weapons in schools to begin the process of installing weapon detection systems beginning in the 2023-24 school year.
Pollio’s effective communication and collaboration skills helped the district navigate a tough political climate and attacks on JCPS, according to the evaluation.
“We commend Dr. Pollio for always standing up for JCPS,” the board said.
As part of its review, the board listed five areas of emphasis and growth for Pollio this year including a look at whether there is a way to measure the effectiveness of the Backpack of Success Skills program and being “mindful of the impact of unfilled positions within leadership staff ranks.”
“We are confident in his leadership ability to continue improving student learning in the District,” the board said.
Following the positive job review, board members voted to give Pollio a raise, increasing his base salary to $350,244, which is proportionate to the $313,813 per year the Fayette County Schools superintendent earns for leading the second largest school district in the state. Pollio’s current annual base salary is $276,000. He has two years remaining on his contract.