By Dr. Lori Jones
Superintendent of Woodford County Public Schools
Last fall, we began the process of gathering input from our community, families, students and staff regarding our strategic vision for Woodford County Public Schools over the next five years. This process was incredible!
Data from over 800 survey respondents, 12 focus groups and individual rounding sessions with hundreds of employees made up the information that informed our new strategic vision. This vision has four pillars that represent the areas on which we will focus our time, energy and resources. They are: successful and engaged students, skilled and committed teams, community and caregiver partnerships and stewardship.
For this month’s column, I’d like to expand on stewardship.
I chose to apply for the superintendency in our wonderful community for many reasons. I’m blessed to work with top-notch educators who are committed to providing a world-class education for each and every student who calls Woodford County Public Schools home. These were the reasons that our strategic vision steering committee chose our new motto: Legacy of Excellence. Future of Opportunity.
The employees of our school district are very proud to continue this legacy each and every day. A few of our most recent accolades include: Five-star Rating Preschool Programs (highest in the state), the only school district in the state to earn national accreditation and competency-based education certification, demonstrating our capability to personalize instruction and verify student mastery for college and career readiness, and last week, Woodford County High School earned a blue rating, ranked in the top 22 high schools in the state (2nd in surrounding districts).
We know that we will not be able to accomplish such a vision without community partnerships and stewardship of our resources.
“We chose to buy a house in Woodford because of the school system.” It’s a quote I hear almost daily as I’m in the community. Whether your roots are firmly planted or just being established, Woodford County has a lot to offer our citizens. Communities, like ours, establish shared values, collaboration and ownership between the schools and our community at large. Developing an interwoven partnership catapults our community forward.
Our students are the heartbeat of the community, always participating in community events, service projects and making us proud in the arts, academics, extracurricular areas and athletics.
Recognizing that our school system is a key asset to our Woodford County community, where 78 percent of funding comes from local taxes from our citizens, we are committed to being the best stewards of our resources.
Webster’s Dictionary defines stewardship as the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care (2026). Team Woodford commits to the careful and responsible management of facilities, operations and processes. Our leaders have established a scorecard with goals that measure progress toward this pillar of stewardship.
Last year, we launched expanded budget transparency initiatives, established a budget committee with open meetings, hosted community HIVE sessions and made detailed financial breakdowns publicly available on our website and during board meetings. We genuinely appreciate the hundreds of citizens who attended our community informational sessions over the summer to listen and support our schools.
Your investment helps us retain exceptional staff, keep our facilities safe and equip our students to compete in a rapidly changing world. Excellent schools protect property values, attract local commerce and define the health of our community for decades to come.
Together we will work to keep our school district strong, accountable and focused on what matters most: the children who represent our county’s future.
Supporting our local schools means protecting the heartbeat of our community—from the front office staff and dedicated teachers who keep our classrooms small, safe and engaging, to the interventionists and coaches who build confidence, resilience and belonging in every child. By safeguarding essential career pathways, vibrant arts programs, trusted resource officers, reliable transportation and top-tier learning tools, we stand together to preserve the strong foundation, stability and bright futures that every student deserves. […]