By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
The Covington Independent School District has unanimously voted to hire Cortnei Flucas as the new Superintendent for the second largest independent school district in the state.
In a special meeting of the school board Thursday evening, Flucas was introduced as a leader who most recently served as Unified Student Supports Officer for Indianapolis Public Schools. She has accepted the position, happy to lead Covington Independent Public Schools as the district is hoping to build on its 200-year tradition of public education.
“I am deeply honored by the Board’s confidence and excited to serve the Covington community,” Flucas said. “From my earliest conversations, it was clear that Covington is a community with deep pride, real momentum, and a strong belief in what its students can achieve. My family and I are thrilled to become part of this community. I look forward to listening closely, building strong relationships, and working alongside students, families, staff, and community partners to help write the next chapter of excellence for Covington Independent Public Schools.”
Flucas has almost two decades of educational leadership experience, as well as a strong record of helping to improve systems in the service of students. Her record in the Indianapolis Schools shows that she led a broad portfolio that included special education, student services, mental health and wellness, family engagement, and school culture all across a district that serves more than 30,000 students in more than 50 schools.
During her years at Indianapolis, Flucas has built a reputation as a thoughtful, student-centered leader who can contribute clarity, alignment and accountability to complex organizations. She has experience in the classroom, in school leadership and executive central office leadership. She has initiated and led work to strengthen student supports, improve reading outcomes, reduce chronic absenteeism, expand family engagement, and build more coherent systems to help schools meet the needs of all learners at whatever level they may be.
“The unanimous vote reflects our Board’s clear and collective belief that Cortnei Flucas is the right leader for this moment in Covington,” said Board Chair Tom Haggard. “This community was clear about what it wanted in its next superintendent – someone who puts students first, listens before leading, builds trust through transparency and follow-through, and has the courage to lead meaningful change. We found that leader in Ms. Flucas.”
The board commented that Flucas not only stood out from the other candidates for her professional track record, but also for her clear alignment with the values and the priorities the board heard loud and clear from the community throughout the search. They liked the commitment to academic improvement, the transparency, and accountability, the strong communication, and the willingness to do whatever is needed to put the best interests of the students first.
“As we celebrate 200 years of public education in Covington, this is about far more than filling a position,” Haggard stated. “It is about setting a direction for the future. Our Board is united in believing that Cortnei Flucas has the vision, the experience, and the character to help us build the next 200 years of public education with purpose, urgency, and hope.”
Last year, former superintendent, Alvin Garrison, announced his intention to retire at the end of his contract in June of 2026.
That prompted School Board president Tom Haggard to assign the search for a new superintendent to Alma Advisory Group in August of 2025. He thanked Sylvia Flowers from the Alma Advisory Group at the meeting for all her hard work.
He explained that this was an extensive, months-long national search, accompanied by an intensive public engagement effort to see what the community was expecting to see in their new superintendent. Through the process, the community consistently voiced both pride in Covington’s schools and a hope for stronger academic performance, along with improved staff stability, clearer communication, deeper engagement, and leadership that is centered around the students, as well as being accountable and responsive.
All the candidates went through a vigorous vetting process that included multiple interviews in several rounds. Staff from across the district, including teachers, classified staff, principals, and central office administrators were in on the interview process, as well as parents, community members, students from Holmes High School, and of course the full Board of Education.
Flucas mentioned in her speech that the participation of the community sent a powerful message. She said there is something deeply special about this community, and she promised to listen. She said she was honored to have the position, and she and her husband are grateful for the opportunity to serve, and she will do so with humility and clarity..
“I am not here as an answer to all that lies ahead,” she said. “The promise of this district does not rest in just one person. It lives in the shared vision of us all, it lives in the shared commitment and the dedication of its educators and staff, in the voices of family and students, and in our collective willingness to listen, to respond, and to act in service of every child. So tonight I simply offer this promise — I will lead with integrity, with openness, and with an unwavering commitment to children. I will listen carefully, I will work hard. I will honor the strength already present, and I will partner with this community to ensure that the next generation has everything it needs to thrive. And if we remain grounded in that shared purpose, if we continue to listen to one another, and if we all stay committed to serving every child then the promise of Covington will not only endure, it will be realized more fully for every student that we are called to serve.”
Haggard was pleased to sum up the Board’s response.
“This was truly a community-wide search for our next superintendent,” Haggard said proudly. “Our Board took that responsibility seriously. We listened to what our stakeholders said they wanted and built a process that gave those voices a real role in shaping the outcome.”
He said the message of the day was gratitude and hope.
In her address to accept the position, Flucas said she and her husband were looking forward to living in the community and putting their three children, Chase, 7, Charlotte, 6, and Charleston, 5 into the school system here in Covington.