New interim principal picked for Winburn Middle in Kentucky

Fayette County Public Schools has named a new leader for Winburn Middle School but would not answer questions about the previous principal’s suspension.

Winburn assistant principal BJ Martin will be interim principal for the 2023-2024 school year, district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith confirmed Thursday.

Martin was named Administrator of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, organization officials said in a Wednesday news release.

She received the award at KASA’s annual leadership institute in Louisville on July 26. The award is the highest honor KASA gives to active administrators, according to the news release.

“BJ has demonstrated extraordinary vision, competence and innovation throughout her tenure. As the embodiment of outstanding leadership, she has fostered an environment on inclusivity, inspiration and growth within her district and KASA, empowering all with whom she comes into contact to achieve their full potential and excel beyond expectations,” said KASA Executive Director, Dr. Rhonda Caldwell.

Some of Martin’s accomplishments include bringing elected officials into Winburn to see the “innovative learning taking place,” as well as highlighting students and teachers in many social media posts, Caldwell said. Martin also serves in the Coalition to Sustain the Education Profession’s Steering Committee.

“She contributes valuable insights to the development of teacher recruitment and retention strategies, “ Caldwell said, “driving positive change within the education profession.”

Martin’s LinkedIn page said she has 23 years of experience in education with 17 years leading at the school, district and state levels.

“I have extensive background in continuous school improvement work, particularly involving systems to support high quality teaching and learning. I am very passionate equity champion and after several years of leading from the district level, I took on a position in leadership at a high needs middle school during the pandemic,” Martin said on her LinkedIn page.

What’s going on with former principal?

In April, Fayette school officials placed principal Gregory Michael Hale on administrative leave without publicly saying why.

The spokesperson for the Kentucky state department that handles child protection said in April they were investigating a situation that resulted in Hale being placed on administrative leave.

No other information was given.

Davidson-Smith said Fayette County schools would not comment on a personnel matter.

Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, Fayette school officials in late July released to the Herald-Leader the letter they sent to Hale notifying him of the leave.

It said the Education Professional Standards Board that licenses educators had been notified of his leave but did not provide any details as to the cause.

On July 24, EPSB officials told the Herald-Leader that until it has taken final action on an educator case, the records pertaining to that case are exempt from disclosure.