New Danville interim superintendent Elmer Thomas with his wife, Maria, and their children — Matthew, a junior at UK, and Lauren, a third-year law student at Belmont University.
Today is Elmer Thomas’ first day as interim superintendent of the Danville Independent Schools and his first plan was to make sure he hit the ground running.
“I will be in every school on Monday. I will walk the hallways of each school to start getting a feel for things. I want to show that I could offer hope for some things to change and that I will listen,” said Thomas.
That could be a big change for a district where many have felt the administration has been out of touch with parents, students, faculty and community members.
Thomas is the former principal at Boyle County and Madison Central High Schools and was superintendent at Madison County.
Why would he want to take on the challenges at Danville?
First, he has family in the community. He has a nephew who is a señior on the Danville football team and has been to see him play. He has great-nephews and nieces in the primary schools. Former Danville football standout Normal “Scrapper” Letcher is his brother-in-law.
“I just want to make things better,” he said.
Thomas did not know Tammy McDonald had resigned as Danville superintendent when a friend contacted him to see if he had any interests in being interim superintendent at three schools. Danville was the system he would want to be interim superintendent.
“I still believe there is a lot of potential there. Danville has seen the highest of the highs. It’s a good community and cares about education. Those are usually fertile grounds and good things can grow from that,” Thomas said.
“With my family ties and what I know about the community, I feel I have a good grasp of leadership and can get everybody on the same page if I can offer strong leadership.”
Thomas will definitely bring a needed dose of positivity to a school system that has lost numerous students to transfer, seen top teachers leave for other jobs, and found its football program in disarray after the firing of coach Clay Clevenger.
“I will just be here for a short period but I do believe it is long enough to build a foundation. Danville has thrived and excelled in all areas in the past from forensics to band to athletics to academics. I want to paint that picture so that we can get there again,” Thomas said.
He believes Danville’s fall break last week gave everyone “a chance to breathe” before a new interim superintendent takes over to show what he thinks the school system can be.
“I will do work with teachers, administrators, and the community,” Thomas said. “We have history on our side for sure with what the Danville schools have been but this is also going to be a new day for Danville schools. That is what I hope to bring.
“I am receptive to listening to anyone. There are tough challenges here but I was principal at Madison Central that had 2,000 students and a very diverse student population. I want to be in every school seeing what we need and what can be done. I am a superintendent who cares about kids and whatever pursuits they have whether it be forensics, athletics, band, or anything else. But it has to be academics first that directs the culture of the school.”
He won’t be part of the selection process for the next full-time superintendent but he believes “everybody” should have a chance to be part of that process.
“We are a small town and we know everybody,” Thomas said. “Teachers, parents, classified personnel, principals all need a voice in this. Let the process work. Listen to what the community has to say. It’s a big decision and I know this community cares and wants the school system to be the very best it can be.”
