BGISD names Caitlin Lawson as new director of special programs

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Superintendent Gary Fields has selected Caitlin Lawson to be the next director of special programs for Bowling Green Independent School District.

According to the district, Lawson “is a dedicated advocate for student success” with experience in both instructional and administrative roles in BGISD.

Lawson began her career in 2016 as a special education teacher, where she specialized in developing individualized education programs focusing on both compliance and instructional design, the district says. Lawson was well-known as a teacher for ensuring academic and behavioral growth and providing a classroom environment where every student could find independence, according to BGISD.

In 2023, Lawson moved from the classroom to administration as the preschool principal for BGISD. She has managed the daily operations, budgeting and state licensing for the district’s five-star preschool program. Then in 2025, her role expanded to include overseeing the district’s daycare program. As a leader, BGISD states she has “excelled in aligning early childhood instruction with Kentucky state standards and has ensured a high-quality, nurturing start for all of our youngest learners.”

Throughout her tenure as principal, the district says she has “continued her commitment to professional growth.” Lawson is a graduate of the Truist Leadership Institute’s “Mastering Leadership Dynamics” program (2024) and the Kentucky Chamber Leadership Institute for School Principals (2025).

In her new role as director of special programs, Lawson will ensure the district’s programming and resources are aligned with student success. While overseeing the requirements provided in state and federal law, her primary goal remains coordinating personnel and services to ensure that every student, in every school, receives the support they need.

Fields says, “Caitlin Lawson has consistently demonstrated commitment to the students and families of BGISD. From her years in the classroom to her successful leadership of our preschool and daycare programs, she has proven to be both a strategic leader and an advocate for inclusive education. I am confident that our special education programming will thrive under her guidance.”

Lawson will officially begin as the director of special programs on July 1, 2026.

Congratulations to Lawson on this role!