David Johnson, Owensboro Public Schools’ Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel, Maintenance and Transportation, has been selected as the 2013 Kentucky Director of Pupil Personnel of the Year.  He will be recognized during the Kentucky Directors of Pupil Personnel Fall Institute that will be held Sept. 12-14 in Lexington.

Johnson has worked with OPS students in overseeing pupil personnel for 12 years.  In his position, he works with schools on attendance and student academic and discipline issues. He works with families, court designated workers, judges, child protective services, and other community resources to provide services to students when needed.  His goal is always to provide the best possible education for the child and to remove barriers to their learning.

A total of 17 Kentucky public school districts, including Owensboro Independent Schools, have submitted applications to the Kentucky Department of Education to become Districts of Innovation.

The Districts of Innovation legislation provides Kentucky public school districts the opportunity to apply for an exemption from certain administrative regulations and statutory provisions in an effort to improve student learning. Local board policy may also be waived for a District of Innovation.

By "re-thinking" what a school might look like, districts will be able to redesign teaching and learning using innovative strategies such as competency-based learning, creating multiple pathways to graduation, and a modified school schedule in an effort to engage and motivate more students, and increase the numbers of those who are college- and career-ready.