Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman is one of four finalists for the National Superintendent of the Year award. 

Recently selected by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators as Kentucky’s Superintendent of the Year, Silberman was chosen as a national finalist from a pool of candidates representing every state.

“We are thrilled that Stu’s outstanding record of accomplishment has been acknowledged. To be selected as a finalist from such a distinguished group of 50 colleagues is a testament to his outstanding abilities, and it is a singular honor for him, for the Fayette County Schools and for the entire state of Kentucky,” said Wayne Young, KASA executive director.

A national blue-ribbon panel will interview Silberman and the other finalists in January to determine the National Superintendent of the Year. The winner will be announced in February during AASA’s National Conference on Education.

Since taking the helm of Kentucky’s second-largest school district in 2004, Silberman has become known for his mantra, “It’s About Kids,” even changing the name of the district’s Main Street office to “It’s About Kids” Support Services as a tangible reminder of the primary mission of the school district.

Silberman said he was humbled by the honors, but gave credit for the success in the Fayette County Public Schools to district employees, students, parents and community, civic and business leaders.

“As I said earlier, recognition like this is really not about an individual. It’s about the team, and we have a phenomenal team here in Lexington, Fayette County,” Silberman said. “At this point in time, I feel like we’re taking the team to the NCAA Final Four.”

Silberman is the first Fayette County Schools leader to earn the state Superintendent of the Year distinction. He joins one other Kentucky superintendent, Donald Ingwerson, former head of the Jefferson County Schools, to be selected as a national finalist. 

Ingwerson was named National Superintendent of the Year in 1992.