Following 23 years in the Graves County school district, Robert Braden became the superintendent of Taylor County on July 1. Photo submitted by Robert Braden
(CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY) – Education has always been more than a profession for Robert Braden, the new superintendent of Taylor County Schools. He said it’s a calling rooted in personal experience and community connection.
Braden said he developed an appreciation for the power of education while growing up in a single-parent household.
“(My mother) struggled and I think I just had a hunger to be better and I wanted to become something that could make a difference,” he said.
Braden has worked in the Graves County school district for the last 23 years in positions ranging from classroom teaching to various administrative roles and 16 years as principal of Sedalia Elementary. He said taking on the superintendent role in Taylor County was a decision that came after careful consideration.
“I was doing my research. I kept looking at what’s going on in the district, what’s going on in the community. What do they need?” Braden said. “When I was looking at their needs and my skill set, I felt like what I had inside of me would match with what they need.”
Braden said ultimately, he and his wife “thought it was a beautiful area … where we can serve and make a difference.”
Braden believes that leadership is most effective when grounded in service to others. He said he values empathy, active listening and shared decision-making. He also said he’s intentional about seeking out the perspectives of others and believes that listening and observing are just as powerful as acting.
“I want to meet the students and listen to their needs,” he said. “One of the things that that I’m big on is like focus groups where you can sit and have lunch with some kids and parents to hear what they have to say.”
Braden has identified three key priorities for his first year: immersing himself in the community, strengthening instructional practices and addressing attendance concerns across the district.
Braden plans to begin by engaging with staff, students and families to get a clear sense of what’s working and where growth opportunities exist. He said he hopes to partner with school leaders to implement data-informed strategies that improve student learning and school culture.
“Right now, we have a couple of schools that are yellow as far as on the state assessments,” he said. “To me, we’re better than that. The kids are better than that. I think they can be taught in a different way or pushed in a way to move them forward.”
Braden said he is filled with optimism about what’s ahead.
“I didn’t know as a kid what I could become, but I had people that believed in me,” he said. “That pushed me a little further than what I thought I could go and I value the students in Kentucky. I feel like we can shine.”
As Taylor County Schools welcomes Braden into his new role, he said the community can look forward to a superintendent who leads with heart.
He started his new position July 1.
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