Matt Robbins has been selected to serve as the next Superintendent of the Daviess County Public Schools district. He will assume his new responsibilities on July 1, 2017, following the retirement of current Superintendent Owens Saylor on June 30.
The DCPS Board of Education made the announcement during a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. today (Monday, March 20, 2017) at Tamarack Elementary School. In making the motion to name Robbins as Superintendent, Board chairman Mike Clark said, “Increasing student achievement has been and will continue to be a priority for our Board. Each of us is committed to achieving excellence and ensuring that the children entrusted to us are prepared to succeed for life.” The motion was passed with a 5-0 vote by Clark, Dr. Tom Payne, Frank Riney, Dale Stewart and Todd Anderson.
Robbins shared a message of appreciation and commitment with a large crowd in attendance at the meeting:
“I am both honored and humbled to be selected as superintendent for Daviess County Public Schools. DCPS enjoys a rich tradition of academic excellence that pre-dates my own 21-year investment. We have incredibly talented support and certified staff that are committed to one agenda: ‘What is best for kids?’ This unwavering commitment will remain steadfast in our continued pursuit of student growth and academic achievement for ALL kids.
“I believe ALL children have innate gifts or talents that require us to create expanded educational opportunities, including the arts, humanities, physical education and community service. I believe strongly in extra and co-curricular activities for students. I want our kids involved in activities beyond the school day as this enhances their own education and cultivates a positive school culture.
“Teachers are the life-blood of successful schools. It is not by coincidence that schools with high teacher performance are schools with high student performance.
“Each employee is a cherished contributor to our mission and must be treated equally in terms of respect, dignity, and value to the organization
“The District Office is NOT about centralized command and control. Leadership is about service, support, collaboration, creating opportunities and setting high expectations whereby staff and students rise above our greatest imaginations.
“Relationships are built upon the foundations of love, trust, transparency and collaboration. Strong relationships are fundamental to student achievement.
“Last: Everything we do, and every decision we make, must be based on the premise of ‘What is best for our kids?’ We make Kids First! our most pressing priority.”
Matt Robbins is the current assistant superintendent for finance and operations at the Daviess County Public Schools district, overseeing a budget of $142.7 million in a district of 11,790 students and 2,300 staff members. His responsibilities have included hiring and mentoring key district-level directors, implementing the DCPS eLearning initiative and overseeing district facilities plans. Throughout his 21-year career with DCPS, Robbins has had direct involvement with the district’s Graduation 2010, Community Campus, Great Expectations and College-Career Readiness initiatives; and was responsible for the implementation of the School Safety and Healthy Schools Programs initiatives. Under his leadership, the district’s finance, facilities, food services and transportation departments have earned “exemplary” ratings from the Kentucky Department of Education. Robbins earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting (Certified Public Accountant) from the University of Kentucky and served as senior accountant at Riney, Hancock & Co. CPAs from 1993-96 before joining the Owensboro Public Schools district as assistant superintendent for finance and maintenance in 1997. He earned a master’s degree in education administration and superintendent endorsement from the University of Louisville in 2012. Since joining DCPS, Robbins has served as accounting manager, business manager and director of finance, in addition to his current role.
The Board of Education received 17 applications for the position of DCPS Superintendent and interviewed three finalists. “The Daviess County Public Schools district has an outstanding reputation for success,” said Board chairman Mike Clark. “Throughout the screening and interview process, it was clear that Matt Robbins is the right choice to lead our district to new levels of success.”