School Board Fills District 3 Seat

Members of the Fayette County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Jason Moore to fill the District 3 board vacancy and look forward to welcoming him to the board team.

“Board members were impressed with Mr. Moore’s demonstrated commitment to ensuring a world-class education for each and every child. His experiences were unique and compelling, equipping him with a keen insight on the challenges many of our students and families face, and a worldview that prioritizes equity and social justice,” Chairman Chair Tyler Murphy said after the vote. “These qualities became apparent to us in his responses during the student-led forum, his interview, and his overall application.”

Moore, a special agent and instructor with the Drug Enforcement Administration, was the top choice of the board after narrowing the initial field to four highly qualified applicants, holding a student-led forum, and receiving community input.

“Service on the school board is exceptionally important and impactful work,” Murphy said. “We all take this responsibility very seriously, and we look forward to welcoming Mr. Moore, who we feel shares our commitment to serving each and every FCPS student and staff member as well as our families and community.”

The District 3 seat – which represents the eastern section of Fayette County, including the Hamburg, Chilesburg, and outbound Richmond Road areas – became vacant in October after the resignation of previous board member Tom Jones. Under state law, the responsibility of filling the open post rests with the district’s remaining board members: Marilyn Clark, Amanda Ferguson, Amy Green, and Tyler Murphy.

“We are grateful to our community for being actively involved in this process,” said Murphy. “Our public schools are the bedrock of our community, and I have often said it takes a village to ensure their success. The people of Fayette County continue to be key allies and partners in this shared work.”

Others who were interviewed were:

• Danny A. Everett, adjunct professor and Siloam Project director at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky;

• Amy L. Sohner, executive director of Bluegrass Greensource, an environmental education nonprofit; and

• Kennedy Wells, director of membership, research, and board relations for Associations International (American Volleyball Coaches Association).

Fourteen applicants had initially met the legal qualifications for service. The board met in closed session twice, on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, to review each one, assess their qualifications, and consider the community input about key characteristics and priorities for the new board member. On Dec. 7, members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council led a public forum featuring the finalists. On Dec. 11, the board conducted interviews with the four finalists.

“Our board faced a difficult choice between many high-caliber candidates,” Murphy said. “I hope all the other applicants will stay actively engaged and seek other leadership roles in our schools and district. We are grateful for their willingness to serve and be part of this important work.”