Jason Nemes licks the name of the superintendent of the JCPS School Superintendent

Lyndon Pryor heads the Louisville Urban League. He was also one of the people who worked in the search consulting committee of the superintendent of the district.

He said to Spectrum News: “I don't think it was an accident.” Pryor added: “So, like many other people, I was disappointed that representative nemes was published about the selection. This was not published by the district.”

From the beginning of the superintendent search, Pryor said that it was always known that the school authority would make this announcement as soon as a concluded contract had been signed. On Thursday evening, the board was 5-2 for Brian Yearwood via Ben Shuldiner.

He added, while the advisory committee led by the municipality did not recommend who the board should hire, the Urban League narrowly refused to the person who was selected.

“In terms of their score, both candidates were very, very good and confident that Dr. Yearwood's candidate had a small advantage over Mr. Shultiner,” said Pryor.

Spectrum News 1 contacted the Jefferson County Public Schools to get a comment, but did not hear from the organization. It is not known when the district will make an official announcement.

Jahrwood background

Yearwood was most recently superintendent of the Columbia public school in Missouri. He replaces Marty Pollio, who was JCPS superintendent from 2017 to 2025 when he retired.

Jahrwood from Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, acquired his Associate degree at the New Mexico Military Institute. He received his bachelor's degree in geology at Texas Tech University, followed by a master's degree in education administration and his doctorate in educational management and statistics.

Dr. H. Brian Yearwood was a superintendent of the fourth largest school district in Missouri, Columbia Public Schools from 2021 to 2024. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

Yearwood left the Columbia Public School, the fourth largest district in Missouri in November 2024. JCPS said under the leadership of Yearwood, the Missouri district was reached milestones, which was increased by an increase in 86.5%by 16 points.

A application for open records submitted by Spectrum News showed that he received 667,000 US dollars in a separation contract with the district to leave the position of his superintendent at an early stage. It corresponds to its annual salary about three times.

The agreement included a year weeks and Columbia Public Schools would not comment on his departure beyond a mutual public explanation.

“After careful consideration and deep thinking, I will pass from my role as a superintendent of the Columbia Public School on Friday, November 22, 2024. During the transitional period, I will continue to serve in a consulting capacity to support the district to ensure a smoothly. My retirement will be effective on December 31.

He has more than 25 years of experience in public education and begins with his career as a teacher of natural sciences and tennis coaches of the middle school. He left the classroom and concentrated his career on the administration. He became a main and headmaster of primary and middle school. In Texas, Yearwood became a superintendent in the Manor Independent School District and responsible for curriculum, HR, academics and operations.

During a Q&A meeting on May 20, Yearwood said that he supported initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion.

“We have to have variety because every child is equipped with a unique personality, a learning style and a unique ability,” said Yearwood. “How can we address all of this if we get the diversity to say:” We will all teach. “You can't.” Yearwood said that he wanted to work with the state legislator to help JCPS be successful, to clear up the budget problems and to concentrate on teaching teachers.

After a long search of a month, Yearwood and Ben Shuldiner were appointed the two finalists for the JCPS position.

Last summer, superintendent Pollio announced that he would resign at the end of this school year. He was at the top when the district navigated through the Covid 19 pandemic, a collapse of the busing system and a comprehensive changes to the students who attend the students.

Pollio will become President of the Ivy Tech Community College system on July 1. The college system is located in Indiana.