Lawson hired as new principal at Whitley County High School

Bob Lawson

A new principal has been selected to lead Whitley County High School.

Superintendent Scott Paul announced Tuesday afternoon that the Whitley County High School Site-Based Decision Making Council selected Whitley County native Bob Lawson as the next principal at Whitley County High School.

"I am honored and humbled to be selected as Principal at Whitley County High School. I look forward to partnering with staff, parents and the community to invest in the lives of students. Colonel Pride… Go Colonels,” said Lawson when asked how he felt about returning to Whitley County as principal of his alma matter.

Lawson is a 1998 graduate of Whitley County High School where he also played football. He still holds seven school records for his efforts on the field.

Lawson is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands with a B.S. Degree in History and a B.A. Degree in Education. He received his Master’s Degree from the University of the Cumberlands in School Administration and Rank I in Superintendency and is currently pursuing his Ed.D.

He was a teacher at Pelham High School in Pelham, Alabama, Central Learning Center and Henderson County High School in Henderson, and P.L. Dunbar High School in Lexington. While in Henderson County, Lawson also served as an assistant principal at Central Learning Center and Bend Gate Elementary School.

For the past two years, he has been Principal of Central Academy in Henderson County. 

"The previous administrative positions that Bob has held have allowed him to develop and strengthen his leadership skills. I believe he is exactly what our high school needs. Also, I am excited about having a Whitley County graduate in this position. His familiarity with our community should help make this a much easier transition for everyone," Paul noted.

Lawson will assume his new duties as principal effective in mid-June.

Paul said that four candidates applied for the job, and he isn’t sure why there weren’t more applicants.

He said one factor might be that principal jobs are a lot harder and more time consuming than they used to be.

By comparison, there were only three applicants for the recent principal opening at nearby Williamsburg.

Lawson is married to Williamsburg native Sarah Macon Lawson and they have two children, Grace, 4, and Ruth, 1.

Lawson will replace Kenneth Powell, who has been serving interim administrator at the school since Feb. 23.

Powell retired as deputy superintendent in 2009, and spent 15 years as high school principal during his 30-year tenure with the school district.

Powell was appointed interim administrator in the wake of the suspension of Whitley County High School Principal Alan Sweet, who was later demoted to classroom teacher.

Sweet has been on a sick leave since his paid suspension ended and is retiring at the end of the school year.
Kentucky State Police have been investigating Sweet since early February and have said only that their investigation involves a juvenile.