Chris LeMonds

Chris LeMonds became the superintendent of Burgin Independent on July 1. Photo submitted by Chris LeMonds

(BURGIN, KY) – Chris LeMonds’ education career journey has included serving as a teacher and coach, an athletic director and a principal, all preparing him to take on the role of superintendent of Burgin Independent.

Burgin Independent operates within one building, pre-K-12, with one principal. LeMonds has served as principal at Burgin since 2014 and said he has been recognized for his leadership in fostering a positive school culture and implementing innovative educational strategies.

LeMonds is a Kentucky native and educator with more than 15 years of experience in Kentucky schools. Before Burgin Independent, LeMonds was an athletic director and teacher before becoming a full-time athletic director at Boyle County High School. Throughout that time, he completed his principalship certification and became the assistant principal at Boyle County High School.

“I enjoy the leadership part of things,” he said.

LeMonds said the transition from a teacher to an administrator changed his perspective on what students and staff need to succeed, including the importance of considering the entire school’s needs. He said the superintendent plays a huge role in shaping both the school and the community.

“As an administrator, you have to look at what’s best for the entire school, not just one group,” he said “Being an administrator, you have to take care of everybody’s programs because all kids deserve equal opportunity here. And our community is very, very involved in our school.”

LeMonds said his vision for the district includes expanding academic and athletic opportunities for all students. He said he has a commitment to equity and innovation, noting that students in smaller, rural districts like Burgin deserve the same experiences and support as those in larger, wealthier systems.

“It’s much more difficult here financially than it is in a bigger district because we’re very rural,” LeMonds said. “We don’t have the tax base that bigger districts have. So, it makes things a little more difficult, but we’re trying to figure out ways that we can be so we are able to offer those things to our kids and hope that they can take that and run with it.”

LeMonds outlined his goals for his tenure, including continuing the growth in student enrollment, maintaining the district’s reputation and offering opportunities that attract students from outside the district. Under his leadership, the district aims to strengthen partnerships with community organizations, pursue targeted grants and prioritize student-centered programming that nurtures both college readiness and athletic excellence.

“Our student population enrollment has grown, and I want to continue that,” he said. “We have so many kids wanting to come here that actually don’t live inside of our school district. I want to offer … those opportunities academically.”

Burgin also prioritizes student well-being by participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), offering free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students without the need for household applications. This initiative ensures that students have access to nutritious meals, supporting their overall health and academic performance.

LeMonds said that many teachers could be great administrators but are hesitant to make the jump due to fear of making tough decisions. He encouraged districts to support teachers in advancing their careers.

“In this field there’s a lot of turnover with administration, especially superintendents, he said. “I think you need good people there to make most schools better places to be. We’ve got a lot of good teachers who could step right into those roles.”

The one thing LeMonds wants to be remembered for after his time as superintendent is how much he cared about the students, staff and the school’s wellbeing. He wants to focus on the importance of building relationships with students and staff by supporting their goals.

“This is my 11th year at Burgin and the graduating class this year, I think were 1st graders when I got here,” he said. “So, l have been able to watch them grow through elementary school, through middle school, high school and now they’re ready to become adults and go off either into the workforce or to college.”