An Exclusive Interview with Stu Silberman, Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools

Stu Silberman discusses the value of public-private partneships in the development of a high performing school system designed to create systemic and long-term academic success in students during an interview with Michael Robinson host of Educational Gateway, which is heard on The Journey Begins, radio for the engaged parent and dedicated educator. Stu Silberman has led two school districts to prominence in the state of Kentucky and has three times been named the state Superintendent of the Year. Most recently, he was among the four finalists for the National Superintendent of the Year Award. Well-known for his mantra “It’s About Kids,” Silberman was hired in 2004 to be the fifth superintendent in three years for the Fayette County Public Schools. Since then, he has been credited with engaging the public, drawing more than 1,300 people to a summit on how to ensure that every student receives a world-class education. He has rebuilt faith with the community, instituting a 24-hour response time rule for phone calls and e-mails and launching dozens of communications initiatives to ensure transparency and openness. Student achievement has skyrocketed, with nearly 40 percent of local schools besting state proficiency standards six years early and a clear focus on closing achievement gaps and holding all students to high expectations. School board meetings, which just five years ago often lasted well past midnight, are now civil and productive with a focus on student achievement strategies. In an unprecedented show of public confidence, a school board vote to raise property taxes to address facility needs received no organized opposition and was affirmed without a voter recall effort. To read more visit Fayette County Public Schools.