LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky’s largest school district, Jefferson County Public Schools, will soon have a new leader. The search to find a superintendent has been narrowed down to just two finalists, and now we’re hearing from parents in the district about what traits they’re seeking in whoever is chosen.

What You Need To Know

  • Jefferson County Public Schools will soon select its next superintendent  

  • Two finalists have been named; both are from outside of the district

  • JCPS will host two public meetings on May 20 where people can meet the candidates

“I am all for fresh ideas. I’m just hoping that they have some knowledge of what our challenges are coming in. As a parent, I worry about that,” JCPS parent Amber Neagle.

Neagle currently has one child in the district and is involved in the state Parent Teacher Association. Neagle said she’s still doing research on finalists Ben Shuldiner and Dr. Brian Yearwood.

She is concerned because neither candidate has headed a school district as large as JCPS in the past.

Ben Shuldiner (left) and Dr. Brian Yearwood (right) are the two superintendent candidates being considered for the Jefferson County Public Schools opening. (Jefferson County Public Schools)

“This is a community, and it has strong parents, it has strong teachers, it has strong community members that want to be part of our system and you’ve got to make sure every voice is heard. Not just one, and don’t forget those students, those students have a voice too,” Neagle said.

Jacqueline Jewell’s son attends Shawnee Middle School. For her, the most important quality in a superintendent is their dedication to improving education in the West End.

“They have to be willing to speak with us, to come down to our area and speak with us so we can tell them what it is that we need for our school system,” Jewell said.

Both candidates are scheduled to attend two community question-and-answer sessions May 20. The first will be at the JCPS Center for Professional Learning next to W.E.B. Dubois High School at 4 p.m. The second meeting will be at Stopher Elementary in far eastern Jefferson County at 7 p.m. They will be streamed online by the district as well.

Neagle plans to attend and wants to see how the two interact with parents.

“A lot of it will be when I go to these forums and how they receive questions, how they talk to the families, if they stick around and have a conversation with parents,” Neagle said.

“We are a unique school district and you have to be willing to step in and not only hear what everybody is saying, but listen to what we are saying,” Jewell added.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified Jacqueline Jewell’s son as her daughter. The error has been corrected. (May 9, 2025)

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