Caverna board members discuss the many entities that superintendent Abell has joined and the subsequent effects on the district. Gage Wilson/for Glasgow News 1
By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
The Caverna Board of Education convened a special-called meeting on June 17 to complete the annual evaluation of Superintendent Amanda Abell, a discussion postponed from the board’s regularly scheduled session last Thursday due to the absence of board member Jennifer Ballard.
After a two-hour closed session, where members reviewed performance based evidence collected throughout the 2024–25 school year, the board collectively rated Abell’s work as “Accomplished” overall — signifying “consistent, strong leadership across multiple domains of responsibility.”
Chairwoman Jennifer Briggs commended Abell’s involvement in the community, emphasizing her commitment to connecting the district with external partners and resources.
“We all agree that we are very impressed with Mrs. Abell’s networking,” Briggs said. “She is involved in several committees and intentionally works with government on state and federal levels…, we’re just very appreciative of that.”
Abell was assessed under Kentucky’s Superintendent Professional Growth and Effectiveness System, which evaluates performance across seven leadership standards.
In the areas of strategic planning and human resource leadership, Abell was rated “Accomplished.” Notably, she received an “Exemplary” rating in Influential Leadership, with board members highlighting her extensive collaboration with local, state, and federal leaders — including grant support from U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Brett Guthrie — as well as her active roles with organizations like KASA, Barren Inc., and the Caverna and Hart County chambers.
When asked about areas for improvement, Abell said, “I just want to work on maintaining those internal and external partnerships, and continue growing our district.”
The evaluation also recognized her consistent presence at leadership meetings, her role in streamlining budgets, and her leadership in initiatives ranging from instructional improvement to staff succession planning.
Reflecting on the outcome, Abell said, “I feel great about the evaluation and extremely grateful that I have a supportive board.”
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