Kathleen Truitt named superintendent of Lee County School System

LEESBURG — On her first day as Lee County schools’ new superintendent, Kathleen Truitt hit the ground running.

Truitt started early in the morning Wednesday on a day that was packed with activity from early morning to after school, School Board member Donna Ford, who was with Truitt at the system’s bus facility, said.

After spending the first day of the system’s school year in Leesburg, Truitt will return home and will officially return to start work in Lee County on Aug. 16.

“She got up at probably 5:30 in the morning so she could go and wave at the bus drivers as they left to pick up the children,” Ford said. “She’s going to all 10 schools. She’s going to band practice. It’s really amazing how much she appreciates individual people in our school system.”

The board unanimously approved Truitt, the sole finalist, as superintendent during a Tuesday called meeting. The 10th superintendent in the school system’s 153-year history, Truitt is the first woman to serve in that position.

She is taking the reins from Jason Miller, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Miller had worked 32 years in the school system.

Truitt brings to Lee County more than 20 years of experience in education, starting as a teacher in elementary and middle school classrooms in 2001 in Henry County. In 2007 she was selected to open the new Woodland Elementary School as its first assistant principal, serving there from 2010 through 2012 before she returned to Henry County Schools as principal of Ola Middle School from 2012 through 2018.

In 2013 Ola Middle was recognized as one of the state’s schools with incredible gains in student achievement, according to a news release issued by the Lee County School System, and during her tenure the Henry County school earned national recognition in fine arts. The school also had success in expanding and excellence in career, technical and agricultural education.

After she was promoted to assistant superintendent in Henry County, the 43,000-student system experienced an 11.4-point growth in the College and Career Performance Index.

During her time in that role, Truitt developed groundbreaking learning models that address underperformance and enrichment with a focus in literacy and mathematics, the Lee County School System said. She also was instrumental in building a digital resource platform that has been internationally recognized and serves as a model for the state.

It was the energy and caring that Truitt displayed on her first day that impressed Ford.

“This is definitely an important decision for these parents and these children and this community,” said Ford, who spent 32 years in the Lee County School System. “When Dr. Truitt walked in, she was just incredible. To be around her, you feel energy.

“My heart is in building a foundation for these children. It’s just who I am. I believe her heart is in children pre-K through 12, building a strong foundation for these kids.”

The search process for the new superintendent was thorough, said Ford, who read each of the 20 applications. Board members also discussed the candidates at length. Ultimately several candidates were interviewed, with Truitt being named the sole finalist in July.

“Personally speaking, every single application was read because somebody took the time to write and send that application,” she said. “We were able to talk to each other about what people we felt would fit into our community and lead our school system.

“I’m excited. I couldn’t be happier. Everybody is just welcoming her to the school system, and we support her 100%.”

Special Photo: LCSS