Former CPS superintendent is a finalist for same role in Kentucky
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Former Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood is again a finalist to assume the same role at another school district.
The Jefferson County School District in Kentucky shared in a press release on its website on Tuesday that Yearwood is one of its two finalists to lead its district. Yearwood is referred to as Dr. H. Brian Yearwood in the release and the school’s social media.
Yearwood stepped down from his position as CPS superintendent in November and was paid $667,268.90 in a contract buyout. Yearwood was hired by CPS in 2021. He was under contract through June 2027, making about $260,000 per year. Chris Belcher was named the district’s interim superintendent before Jeff Klein was hired.
CPS announced in November that Yearwood would step down immediately “to spend time with family in Texas,” previous reporting indicates. Yearwood announced in August that he had been diagnosed with cancer. That diagnosis was not mentioned in his resignation letter.
Yearwood’s separation agreement with CPS states that he agreed to the mutual public statement between the two parties and cannot make any further public statements.
Yearwood was recently a finalist for a superintendent position in Garden City, Kansas, and at the Christina School District in Newark, Delaware last month.
The Jefferson County press release says the finalists will partake in a pair of public question-and-answer sessions that will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube page from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. A second session will occur later in the evening.
“Both individuals have a wealth of experiences and credentials that have prepared them for a leadership opportunity such as the superintendency of JCPS presents,” Corrie Shull, chair of the JCBE, is quoted in the release. “Both individuals are capable of elevating student learning in our district, ensuring students continue to excel and our district will continue to flourish.”
At a community forum held by Garden City school district in January, Yearwood was asked what his most-vocal critic would say about him as a school leader.
“They would say he doesn’t have much patience for red tape that slows down the process of getting things done to benefit scholars. I’ve had to sort of temper because there, there, there are rules you must follow,” he said in the video. “And again, I’m not talking about circumventing rules or doing anything. That’s not it. But sometimes, when we know something is great for a scholar or scholars or school, sometimes the process gets bogged down.”