Dr. Janice Lantz speaks after accepting the superintendent of the year
award Jan. 23 in the main ballroom at the Galt House, Louisville.

Fred Dupree, center, and Ed Massey, immediate past president of the KSBA,
present the F.L. Dupree Oustanding Superintendent of the Year award to
Nelson County superintendent Dr. Janice O. Lantz.

KSBA names Dr. Lantz Kentucky's 2010 Outstanding Superintendent

KSBA eNews Service
Photos by Tom Dekle

For nearly 14 years, no item has been too great or small to escape the attention of Nelson County Schools Superintendent Jan Lantz if it can be used to improve her school district.

For that and many other reasons, Lantz is the recipient of the 2010 F.L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent Award winner. The award, announced during the Kentucky School Board Association’s 74th annual conference Jan. 23 in Louisville, is presented by the family of the late F.L. Dupree Sr., a Lexington businessman and a lifelong supporter of Kentucky’s public schools. It recognizes exceptional leadership in educational programs, finance, and student, staff and community relations. Honorees are chosen by a panel of past recipients.

Nelson County school board member Frank Hall said the district was facing threats to its financial well being when Lantz took the reins in 1996. “She took immediate steps to correct these deficiencies, guiding the district into a pattern of sound financial management,” Hall wrote in her nomination.

Her leadership in these financial areas has guided the district through difficult and controversial decisions, leading it to being among the state’s bottom 20 percent in per pupil revenue while improving teacher salaries to among the top 10 percent in the state. Lantz has helped pass two growth nickel taxes, closed three schools, and spearheaded the construction of four new schools and the remodeling of four others. The district has also reduced costs by nearly $500,000 through energy conservation.

During her tenure, the district has launched initiatives contributing to everything from increased student achievement to better communications and improved instructional practices. Among the programs are: Café Series to discuss test results and improve instruction, Reading Recovery, restructuring Nelson County High School, providing Curriculum Resource Consultants to work at each district school, and a Think Tank to bring together administration and teacher leaders to brainstorm innovations.

Lantz has also been a fixture at countless athletic, academic and other student-centered events. “She wants students to know that she thinks their achievements are something to be proud of and that she is never too busy to attend a school event,” Hall wrote.

She also makes time to mentor two at-risk students at Nelson County’s alternative school and has established a mentoring program between central office staff and students at several schools. Her focus on students has extended to creating a student advisory group at each school, which she meets with at least twice a year.

Lantz also meets with various classified employee groups, such as bus drivers, leads a monthly teacher advisory council and meets twice a year with teachers new to the district. All administrative team members are required to attend a weekly meeting, a practice Hall said was questioned by some at first, but they soon learned the value of knowing what was going on throughout the district. “These meetings have resulted in nearly everyone being better informed and thus, has helped to create a more team-oriented atmosphere,” Hall wrote. “As a result … some of the administrative team members are now conducting similar meetings with their staffs.”

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