Daviess County candidate touts 'tradition of excellence'

By MARTY FINLEY mfinley@thenewsenterprise.com

ELIZABETHTOWN – Leesa Moman didn’t have to wander far to find inspiration for a career path — it was on display every day in her own family. Her mother and aunt were both entrenched in the education system as teachers, and they provided the blueprint that Moman would use to construct her own career.

Moman, director of special programs for Daviess County Schools, is now ready to build on that career.

Moman interviewed for the Elizabethtown Independent School’s superintendent position Friday. She was the fourth finalist interviewed, after Nathan Huggins, EIS director of district support services; Dr. Rebecca Lowry, assistant superintendent at Dayton Public Schools in Dayton, Ohio; and Gary French, director for student services at Elizabethtown Independent Schools.

Moman has family in the Elizabethtown area and said she is attracted to the “tradition of excellence” exemplified in the district.

“I want to build upon their tradition of excellence and continue that tradition of excellence,” she said.

Moman said she was impressed by the level of leadership exhibited in all of the schools she visited, and the amount of support and passion teachers and principals devote to the children.

“I’m excited about what I saw,” she said.

She even joined in by shadowing some of the children as they worked.

“That’s what education is all about,” she said.                                                                  

Moman knows from experience as she began her career in teaching before moving into administrative roles.

Moman has a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a Rank 1 from Western Kentucky University.

She began her career in 1981 as a special education teacher at Burns Elementary in Daviess County and took on numerous roles over the years, including elementary principal, special education consultant, director of special services, assistant superintendent and director of special programs, all for Daviess County Schools.

Moman said this combined experience has poised her to accept the responsibility of a superintendent.

“I’m ready for the next level,” she said.

 A fifth candidate remains to be interviewed, but has chosen not to release his or her name.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762.