RALEIGH
David Raleigh, who has served as the superintendent of schools since 2018 for LaRue County in Hodgenville, Ky., has been selected to lead the students in Jamestown.
The appointment of Raleigh as superintendent was approved unanimously March 9 by the school committee. The 61-year-old’s first day will be July 1 following his retirement from the Hodgenville system. Raleigh, listening to the livestreamed meeting, texted the chairwoman, Kristine Lapierre, in real time as the committee was voting.
“I am humbled and honored to have been selected as Jamestown’s next superintendent,” he wrote. “We’re so excited.”
Raleigh will replace Kathy Sipala, who was hired in the interim capacity in July 2023 following the resignation of Ken Duva to accept the superintendent’s post in North Kingstown. Lapierre said she was “very, very excited” about the “exceptionally approachable” hire.
“I think the wonderful thing is that he is just as excited about Jamestown,” she said. “He has already started rolling up his sleeves.”
“He is the rare person who will be able to bring a big new burst of energy to our schools while immediately feeling right at home,” added board member Sally Schott.
Raleigh, a self-described “empathetic, collaborative and servant leader,” has worked in public education for more than 30 years in his home state, including a stint as the education recovery leader for the Kentucky Department of Education.
Under his leadership in LaRue County, the district scored above average on the statewide assessments the past two years and he helped establish the preschool program.
“He’s going to come in, listen and meet everybody,” Lapierre said. “He likes input before he makes a decision.”
Raleigh also was at the helm during the pandemic.
“They really commended his leadership,” Lapierre said. “He really did a great job leading the schools through that footnote in American history.”
Aside from the references provided by Raleigh on his resume, the committee members said they contacted other municipal officials in Hodgenville to vet the candidate. That included conversations with the mayor and chief of police, according to Drew Allsopp, the committee’s vice chairman.
“It seems like he had unanimous support from everyone,” he said. “Lots of love coming his way.”
“One point that I think is really important for anybody who is in a position of leadership is a sense of humor,” committee member Agnes Filkins added. “And he definitely has a sense of humor.”
Committeeman Christian Cowan also exhibited optimism.
“There’s nothing but incredibly great hopes and a bright future with him coming to our schools,” he said.
LaRue County has 2,400 students in four schools with 400 employees and an annual budget of $30 million dollars. Jamestown, in contrast, has 600 students, two schools, 96 employees and an annual budget of $16.5 million.
Raleigh and his wife, Tami, who is retiring as the assistant director of pupil personnel services in the Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky, have three adult sons.
The school board commended the search committee for identifying Raleigh as a “tremendously qualified” candidate from the field of 14 applicants. The committee comprised Ed Mello, Nate Edmunds, Erica Dickson, Michele Desrosiers, Erin Preston, Jen Kittredge, Christina Smith, Lisa Tuttle, Tony Rafanelli and Abby Tighe.
“You really did all of the hard work for us,” Lapierre said.
The board also thanked Sipala for her tenure, which ends June 30.
“You designed a process for this search by which all stakeholders, all staff members and all students had the opportunity to be involved,” Lapierre said. “They really felt they were part of this decision-making process. … It would be very easy to have an interim superintendent who would just show up, sign papers and move merrily along on their way. But you have been so invested in making sure we are set up for success.”
Sipala also successfully recommended the previously full-time superintendent job to become a part-time position. The annual salary for the 140-day position will be $90,000 with $41,000 in benefits, about $75,000 less than the full-time model.
Duva had an annual schedule of 220 day during his seven years as superintendent.
Raleigh will work about three days a week during the academic year and two days a week in the summer.
