Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011

The School-Based Decision Making Council at Bryan Station High School has selected a new principal. Mike Henderson, a former high school principal and assistant principal who has been working with the Kentucky Department of Education helping struggling high schools for the past two years, will assume his position July 1.

Henderson has 27 years of experience in education, having taught high school science for 13 years, and worked two years as associate principal at Franklin County High School, three years as principal of George Rogers Clark High School, seven years as associate principal at Lafayette High School and two years as a highly skilled educator with the Kentucky Department of Education.

“It’s an honor to be chosen for this fantastic opportunity to join the hard work that’s been going on at Bryan Station High School and be a part of helping a large number of young people achieve college and career readiness,” Henderson said. “I am very proud to become a Defender.”

Henderson replaces Gladys Peoples, who resigned this spring after six years as principal.

Listening will be the order of business, Henderson said.

“I look forward to getting out in the community to meet with as many students, parents and community leaders as possible to get a feel for the heart beat of Bryan Station community,” he said. “I need to hear from faculty and staff members and examine the results of the TELL survey closely so that I have extensive information on what is going well and what can be improved based on those staff perceptions.”

The goal, he said, is to take the lead from the people who know Bryan Station High School best, he said.

“I need to know where we came from, where we are now and how we can collaboratively get to where we want our kids to be,” Henderson said.

Superintendent Stu Silberman welcomed Henderson to his new position.

“Mr. Henderson is coming to us with experiences from Lafayette High School as an associate principal and from the Kentucky Department of Education as a highly skilled educator,” Silberman said. “These experiences will serve him well as he takes over the lead at Bryan Station High School to build upon the work that has been taking place.”

Other district leaders echoed his praise.

“We are excited to have Mike join the Bryan Station team and look forward to his leadership building on the foundation provided by Dr. Peoples,” said high school director Mike McKenzie. “Mike’s past work will serve as a strong base as he works in partnership with the Bryan Station community in developing a world-class school.”

Henderson, 50, is married to Beverly Henderson, and the couple has three children and one grandchild.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and secondary education from Berea College, a master’s degree in secondary education from Georgetown College and a Rank I and secondary principal certificate from the University of Kentucky.