FCPS Board Commends Strong Leadership, Student Success, and District Progress in Superintendent’s Annual Evaluation

On July 14, the Fayette County Board of Education completed its annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins, affirming that he Meets Expectations in all seven areas of professional performance as outlined in the district’s evaluation framework. These areas include:

• Strategic Leadership
• Instructional Leadership
• Cultural Leadership
• Human Resource Leadership
• Managerial Leadership
• Collaborative Leadership
• Influential Leadership

The evaluation reflects the Board’s continued confidence in Dr. Liggins’ leadership, his commitment to student success, and his effective execution of the district’s long-term goals outlined in A New Way Forward, the district’s strategic plan.

View the Overall Summary

Board Highlights Growth and Milestones

In its written remarks, the Board credited Dr. Liggins with maintaining a strong student-centered focus that drives the district’s progress. His leadership, they noted, continues to align with the core belief that every decision should advance learning and opportunity for all students.

The Board cited key outcomes that reflect the district’s upward trajectory under his leadership:

• Rising graduation rates
• Improvements in the state’s accountability system, with no schools identified as underperforming
• Academic gains across student groups
• Improved staff compensation and benefit structures
• Full staffing of all certified teaching positions
• Smaller student-teacher ratios
• Steady rollout of a robust safety and security framework
• Five consecutive clean financial audits
• Enhanced visibility for FCPS as a leader in both education innovation and economic development

The Board also recognized Dr. Liggins for his ability to cultivate strategic partnerships across the local, state, and national landscape that bolster FCPS’s impact and broaden the district’s reach.

Communication and Governance

The evaluation also acknowledged improved efforts in transparency and communication. Board members praised Dr. Liggins for engaging diverse voices in board meetings and ensuring multiple opportunities for dialogue with both families and community partners. Notably, the 2025 Family Engagement Survey showed communication as the district’s strongest area of performance, a signal of both progress and promise.

At the same time, the Board encouraged further refinement in messaging, especially in connection to budget-related communication, as the district approaches key milestones in the FY 2026 financial planning cycle.

Sustained Progress Amid Challenges

The Board emphasized the Superintendent’s steady and thoughtful leadership through complex and unpredictable challenges, including the tailwinds of the pandemic and ongoing economic pressures. Through it all, Dr. Liggins has remained focused on the core mission of student learning and staff support, guiding the district through meaningful transformation and growth.

“This evaluation affirms the direction we are heading and the collective work of our school community,” Dr. Liggins said. “I am grateful for the partnership of our Board of Education and the shared belief that every student deserves access to a world-class education. Together, we will continue to build on the foundation we’ve laid.”

Continued Commitment to Excellence and Accountability

The annual superintendent evaluation is a core governance function required by Kentucky law (KRS 156.557), ensuring accountability, transparency, and shared leadership between the Board and Superintendent. This year’s evaluation continues to utilize the streamlined evaluation model introduced in 2023, which focuses on clarity and alignment with state leadership standards, professional expectations, and local strategic goals. The scoring system, “Meets Expectations” or “Does Not Meet Expectations”, provides a clear, concise measure of Dr. Liggins’ performance across seven key standards and helps ensure consistency and focus in assessing progress.