WCHS Principal Bob Lawson hired as new Henderson County superintendent

Whitley County High School will be looking for a new principal in the coming days.

The Henderson Gleaner reported Thursday evening that WCHS Principal Dr. Bob Lawson has been selected by the Henderson County school board as its next superintendent by a 4-1 vote.

Lawson has spent the last five years as principal at his alma mater, Whitley County High School.

Prior to that he spent seven years as a teacher, administrator and coach in the Henderson County school system.

Lawson will not take over as the new superintendent at Henderson County until Dec. 1, but he will serve in a transitional role beginning July 1, working alongside outgoing superintendent, Marganna Stanley.

On Friday, Whitley County Schools Superintendent John Siler said of Lawson, “He has done an exceptional job leading our high school. We have seen many improvements and progress during his time there, and we are appreciative of that fact. We wish him nothing but the best of luck.”

“He is a Whitley County Colonel, and we are proud of him for receiving this opportunity,” Siler added.

As for who will eventually take on the role of principal at WCHS, Siler explained, “We will begin our search immediately. It will be a methodical process, and we will be looking for someone with great integrity and leadership skills. We are going to look for the best person for the job, but also the right person for the job.”

Lawson, who is a 1998 graduate of Whitley County High School, earned a Doctorate of Educational Leadership degree from the University of the Cumberlands in December of 2018. He said that this opportunity to move back to Henderson and take over as the county school system’s superintendent is the only one that he would have considered leaving Whitley County for.

“This is the only position that we would’ve left for,” said Lawson. “Henderson is a great community, a great school district, and we do have a history there. The timing of this opportunity just feels like the Lord leading us back there.”

With that being said, Lawson also wanted to make clear that Whitley County will always hold a special place in his heart. “This is my home,” he explained. “For that reason, this was a very hard decision for us to make. This community has been so good to us, and John Siler is doing a fantastic job of moving the school district forward. I am so proud of the accomplishments of our students, the hard work of our staff, and the progress of the community as a whole. #ColonelPride!”

Lawson will be able to continue promoting “Colonel Pride” in his new position, as Whitley County and Henderson County both share the same mascot.