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Megan Perin is the new principal of Eastern Elementary School.  Perin has served as the school’s assistant principal since 2024 and was previously a teacher at Eastern.  She has been an educator for more than 15 years and has experience teaching elementary school in Kentucky, Ohio, and Alabama.

"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next principal of Eastern Elementary School,” said Perin.  “Eastern has a rich tradition of caring for students and cultivating their growth both academically and personally. There is truly no place like Eastern, and I look forward to partnering with our students, staff, families, and the community as we continue creating opportunities to help students thrive."

“We are thrilled to welcome Megan Perin as the new principal of Eastern Elementary School,” stated Stephanie Emmons, Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning for Scott County Schools.  “Her dedication to the Eastern community, proven instructional leadership as assistant principal, and years of experience in elementary education make her the ideal candidate.”

Perin holds a Master of Arts in educational administration from Campbellsville University, Education Specialist certification in Instructional Leadership from University of the Cumberlands, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Bellarmine University, and a bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Principal Perin will officially begin in her new role on July 1, 2026.

 

Hope Mitchell will be the next principal of Garth Elementary School.

Mitchell has served as the assistant principal at Garth Elementary since July 2024. Before her tenure at Garth, she served as a teacher, team leader, science department chair, and athletic director at Georgetown Middle School from 2020 to 2024. During her time there, she was recognized as the 2022 Georgetown Middle Teacher of the Year.

At Garth, Mitchell has been a visible and supportive presence, building trust with students and families while fostering a welcoming environment. She is a proven instructional leader who has focused on teacher coaching and utilizing data-driven practices to drive academic improvement.

"We are incredibly excited to announce Hope Mitchell as the new principal of Garth Elementary," shared Superintendent Billy Parker. "Her dedication to a positive, collaborative staff culture and her strong instructional leadership make her the perfect fit to lead this school."

"Garth Elementary holds a rich history within our community, and it is truly special to be part of a school with such a strong foundation," Mitchell reflected. "I believe in leading through service, and I strive each day to embody servant leadership by listening, supporting, and empowering both staff and students."

Superintendent Parker added, "With Garth approaching its 100th year, her passion for honoring the school's past while leading us into an exciting future ensures our students will continue to be challenged and supported."

Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree from Liberty University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Education in P-12 Principal from the University of the Cumberlands.

Hope Mitchell will officially begin as the next principal of Garth Elementary on July 1, 2026 when Principal Damon Stefanic assumes a new role as Director of Elementary Education for Scott County Schools.

 

Scott County Schools Department of Nutrition will be operating under the USDA SuN Meals program to provide FREE weekly meal packs for children 18 & under.  Each week, each child’s meal pack includes:

✅7 Breakfasts

✅7 Lunches

 

🗓️When:  Tuesdays, June 8th - July 28th

📍Where: 2 location choices 

• Scott County High School: 11:00 am-1:00 pm
• Lemons Mill Elementary: 4:00 pm-6:00 pm

 

Know Before You Come:

📋One-time family registration.  Families are encouraged to register in advance for ease of process but can register at pick up.

🏷️Car tag given to registered families at their first pick up.  Tag required OR children must be present.

 

📲Register Here: https://forms.gle/U2g85m7etK5WGt4D8

 

Joe Matthews will be the next principal of Scott County High School.  He currently serves as an educational recovery leader at the Kentucky Department of Education.  He previously served as principal at both Paris High School and Lexington Christian Academy and was an assistant principal at East Jessamine High School for 13 years.

"We are thrilled to have Joe Matthews join the Scott County team," said Superintendent Billy Parker.  “With more than two decades of leadership experience, I have no doubt his commitment to student success and his collaborative spirit will continue the tradition of excellence at Scott County High School."

“Scott County High School has a distinguished and historic legacy as an educational institution in Kentucky,” reflected Matthews.  “Our commitment will be to further this excellence in academics, extracurricular achievement, and dedicated service to our community. It is an honor to lead SCHS into its next chapter of success.”

Matthews holds bachelor of science degrees in telecommunications and biology as well as master of education degrees in secondary science education and administration and supervision, all from the University of Kentucky. 

Joe Matthews resides in Lexington with his wife Rene’, who teaches English at Jessie Clark Middle School. They are the proud parents of three daughters, Maggie, Millie, and Molly, all of whom are students at the University of Kentucky.

 

 

Damon Stefanic is the new director of elementary schools.  Stefanic, the long-time and well-loved principal at Garth Elementary School, previously served as director of human resources for Scott County Schools.  Under his leadership, Garth has focused on data to guide high quality instruction and was recognized as a green-rated school during last year’s Kentucky Summative Assessment.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside principals and teacher leaders to create a shared, standards-aligned approach that brings strong instruction, high expectations, and engaging learning to every elementary classroom,” Stefanic stated. “Together we’ll use data, what we see in classrooms, and our collective expertise to strengthen and align our practices so every student is consistently challenged, supported, and inspired each day."

“We are thrilled to have Damon Stefanic in this pivotal role for our district,” reflected Scott County Schools Superintendent Billy Parker.  “He has a proven track record for success built on high expectations, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to student achievement.”

Stefanic previously served as administrative dean at Simmons Elementary in Woodford County and assistant principal at Painted Stone Elementary in Shelby County and was also a teacher at Georgetown Middle School.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Chester University and Master of Arts degrees from Eastern Kentucky University.

Damon and wife Stephanie have been married for 20 years and live on their family farm with their two active daughters, both students in Scott County.  

Stefanic will officially begin in this new role as director of elementary schools on July 1, but he will be the first in line to celebrate Garth’s 100th birthday this fall.