Dr. Amy Shutt has been selected to serve as personnel director for the Daviess County Public Schools district.
Her primary areas of responsibility will include recruitment, retention and continuous development of a diverse certified and classified staff, and providing direct support to the DCPS Office of Teaching and Learning and school principals with a goal of improving student achievement and closing achievement gaps through the application of effective coaching and evaluation processes.
Shutt is currently the principal at Burns Elementary School, a position she has held since 2004. She will assume her new role July 18, replacing Mark Owens, who retired at the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.
“Throughout my career, I have mentored school leaders in the areas of personnel, curriculum and instruction, parent relationships, finance and Professional Learning Community organization,” Shutt said. “I believe the effectiveness of an organization begins with people. In my role as personnel director, my focus will be on recruiting the best, nurturing relationships to retain the best and helping each staff member grow professionally within the DCPS organization.”
In addition to serving as principal at BES, Shutt is the co-instructor for the principal certification program at Western Kentucky University. Her 23-year career in education also includes work as principal and teacher in the areas of language arts, arts and humanities, science and social studies at Drakesboro Elementary School. Under her leadership, Burns Elementary School earned designation as a Distinguished School of Distinction; and Drakesboro Elementary School was recognized by the Kentucky Department of Education as one of the eight highest-performing at-risk schools in the state.
“Dr. Shutt has a strong background as a mentor who has identified and developed outstanding individuals in both certified and support positions with a consistent focus on ensuring that our students succeed in the classroom and beyond,” said DCPS Superintendent Owens Saylor. “I am confident she will continue that commitment to the benefit of students and staff across the district.”
The School-Based Decision Making council at Burns Elementary School will begin the process of selecting a principal to assume leadership at their school.