Superintendent Brent Roark has received his final evaluation from the Harlan County Board of Education, again scoring exemplary for his service over the past school year. He consistently received that rating during his eight-year tenure leading the district. 
The board scored Roark as exemplary in each of the seven areas of assessment:
Strategic Leadership
Instructional Leadership
Cultural Leadership
Human Resource Leadership
Managerial Leadership
Collaborative Leadership
Influential Leadership
“Mr. Roark has exceled in leadership to our district in many objectives. We are so pleased with the state of our district and especially with opening our pre-school program,” said Chairman Gary Farmer.
Farmer noted that the district has seen “many steady improvements with enhanced curriculum and reducing achievement gaps. This is a monumental task given our demographics. He has always strived for excellence.”
The evaluation remarks noted that Roark has proven repeatedly to have buy-in from staff, students and the communities.
Farmer said Roark’s skills and knowledge of all programs and departments across the district “are above and beyond others in our state… Mr. Roark has been a great leader for our board and district. He has excellent relationships with our board, staff, students and communities. Mr. Roark, through his hard work and excellence, is greatly respected locally and on the state level.
The board reviewed the goals established for the superintendent at last year’s evaluation, noting that the district’s preschool will open this fall.
The board met in executive session to prepare the evaluation and then met briefly with Roark. After returning to open session, the ratings were presented and various remarks added as the meeting was Roark’s final one in his eight-year tenure.
“It has been a good, good career here,” said Roark. “The board has been awesome. The one thing you all have done collectively is you told me what you wanted. It was never mixed messages from any of you. You told me clearly what you wanted. You told me what you expected from me. And then you gave me the ability to put people around me to deliver that. We kept a good relationship that way. I tell you what is going on. I’m honest with you. You guys tell me what you expect and we get it done. We kept a good relationship that way.
“You never wanted things just for your school. You’ve wanted what is best for the district as a whole. In doing that we make sure every school is taken care of. That doesn’t happen in all districts.”
Farmer noted that several districts are currently experiencing financial concerns, but noted Roark is leaving Harlan County Public Schools on sound financial ground.
The board presented Roark with an appreciation award denoting his 32 years of service to the children of Harlan County. Farmer presented him with a handmade quilt made by his wife, Janie.
She used the Cross and Crown quilt pattern, a traditional quilt design with deep symbolic meaning, often representing Christian faith and the promise of eternal life.
The quilt included an embroidered inscription that reads: “Brent Roark Happy Retirement Harlan County Schools, 1993-2025.”
“That’s awesome,” exclaimed Roark.