Harlan County Schools families affected by loss of SNAP funds are encouraged to seek assistance through this program at Christ's Hands. Follow the QR code or link to complete an application.
Anyone needing assistance accessing the link may contact your Harlan County Schools Family Resource Centers. THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL THE PROGRAM REACHES ITS MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGavpHACwh57gEt7FxIqnytD0ugU4p9NJhcfShoqHlv77Xzg/viewform

PUBLIC FORUM ON FACILITIES SLATED OCT. 20
The Harlan County Schools Local Planning Committee will conduct an LPC Meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Harlan County Board of Education Central Office at 5:00 p.m. The office is located at 251 Ball Park Road, Harlan.
Immediately after, the Local Planning Committee will convene a Public Forum at 6:30 p.m. to solicit public comment on the proposed District Facilities Plan.
The Local Planning Committee Meeting and Public Forum are scheduled in accordance with KRS 157.620 and regulated by 702 KAR 1:001.
Cub Club Member Oaklee Hensley is all smiles as her grandfather, Superintendent Brett Johnson, picks her up after completing her day at the Harlan County Child Development Center. The HCCDC provides preschool education opportunities for our future Black Bears.

GSA SERVED AS CATALYST, FORGING CHANGES IN APPROACH TO ACTING, UNDERSTANDING SELF
My time at the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) in the drama discipline served as a catalyst, forging multiple changes in both my approach to acting and my understanding of myself.
The immersive environment, fueled by never ending creativity and shared passion, unlocked new potential within me and created life long bonds that continue to resonate in my artistic journey. The rigorous studio sessions, collaborative minds, and exposure to viewpoints that differ from my own at GSA instilled in me a newfound confidence, resilience, and empathy that goes beyond the stage.
The intensive training I received stands out as one of GSA's most impactful aspects. The program offered a comprehensive foundation in the performing arts. The demanding curriculum pushed me to explore uncharted territory, experiment with diverse styles, and cultivate a more profound appreciation for the art form.
I honed my skills, identified my strengths, and gained the courage to take risks and embrace vulnerability in my performances through workshops, rehearsals, and the final showcase.
Beyond the technical aspects, GSA brought about a collaborative community that promoted my personal development. I felt a sense of belonging and acceptance among people who shared my passion for the arts.
The lunch table conversations, performing for the entire school in a coffeehouse open mic night, and the all school field trip challenged my mindset, broadened my horizons, and highlighted the significance of empathy and understanding.
Within this community, I discovered the true meaning of teamwork, the strength of vulnerability, and the revolutionary potential of art.
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(Note: A rising senior, Dunn participated in the GSA on the University of Kentucky campus this summer. She was selected for drama, with more than 2,500 applicants for the program. GSA aligns with her long-term goal of majoring in Secondary Education and minoring in Theatre Arts at the University of Kentucky, and eventually becoming a performer/high school theatre educator.
“Going to Governors School for the Arts is an extreme honor and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend. I’m so lucky to have learned from so many educators and students from across the Commonwealth and the globe. I want to share the GSA experience with others and show how it changed my life for the better, hoping that more people will be able to experience the joy that is Governors School for the Arts,” said Dunn.
Dunn is the daughter of Jessica and George Anglin. She plans to pursue a degree in secondary education with a minor in theatre arts at the University of Kentucky and to apply to work at Governor’s School for the Arts after high school.
“I cannot wait to give back to the program that gave me life,” she said. “I want to share the joy of theatre for generations to come and I hope that, through God’s will, I’ll be able to become a high school theatre educator and share the love I carry for the arts.”
Her activities include being a member of the Beta Club, International Thespian Society, Drama Club, Lady Bear Soccer, National Honor Society, Gifted and Talented and Radio Club.)




This year, we’re adding a new feature called Rooms to our district app. Rooms enables you to have two-way parent-teacher conversations and keep up with classroom announcements.
Our district app currently offers:
• Live feed updates
• District and school news
• Upcoming events
• Breakfast and lunch menus
• Push notifications for important and urgent announcements
With Rooms, you’ll have access to even more exciting features like:
• Two way messaging with teachers, staff, and coaches
• Classroom announcements, reminders about coursework, and materials
• Behavior tracking for celebrating good behavior and academic achievement
• Automatic translation
So what does all of this mean for you? This means that you don’t need another app or tool to keep up with your child’s teachers and coursework. You’ll be able to find the vast majority of school and district information in one place: within our Harlan County Schools app. If you don’t already have it, the district app is free and you can search for it in the Play Store and App Store!
Soon after you return the requested information to your school, you'll receive an invite to Rooms by text. Once you receive the invite, you'll follow the link on your browser to create a login.
Students will be bringing home a letter from Superintendent Brett Johnson and a form for easy submission of your cell phone numbers you want us to utilize. These documents are attached on this post as well.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.




Come check out all of the new and exciting opportunities coming your way at Harlan County High School!

Mason has been a member of the Harlan County High School Golf Team, playing on the junior varsity last season.
This junior invitational returned to the Lynch Country Club after 13 years this summer. He is shown with his coaches, Brendan Rutherford and Brett Widner.
Mason is the son of Dennis and Sabrina Garrett.
Congratulations Mason!



Opportunities include flag football for kindergarten through second graders only ($40 fee);
Football for third and fourth graders only ($50 fee);
Cheer for kindergarten through fourth grade ($50 fee).
Up to date physicals are required and registration fee due at signup.






Once the meeting moved to new business, Mr. Brock detailed the changes made this summer, gave an update on the facilities, and discussed the implementation of Chapter Goal Setting for the 2025-2026 school year. Thanks to this meeting, the FFA Officer team and Mr. Brock have several fundraiser ideas that the public should soon know about, a plan for chapter involvement in competitions, and a plan to attend Freshman orientation on July 31st.
Each officer noted they are excited to be presented with new opportunities this upcoming school year.
If you have questions about Harlan County FFA, how you can be involved, or even how you can help our students be successful, please reach out to Mr. Elijah Brock via email at elijah.brock1@harlan.kyschools.us














