Bo Matthews discusses retirement as Barren County superintendent

BARREN COUNTY, Ky. – He’s worked just about every job at the district, and now he’s taking what staff say is a well-deserved break.

News 40 spent some time Friday at the Barren County Board of Education office to speak to superintendent Bo Matthews and staff as he approaches retirement this spring after 13 years in his current position.

Matthews says he’s been around for a long time, attending Barren County Schools as a student for 12 years, then going on to work for the district for another 33. Matthews said after a career research project in middle school, he knew he wanted to be a coach and a teacher.

His administrative assistant, Stephanie Spence, and director of pupil personnel, Anthony Frazier, both said Matthews will be dearly missed, and whoever comes next will have big shoes to fill.

“Superintendent Matthews went to school here, he’s taught here, he’s been very involved in the community…” Frazier said.

When asked about his leadership style, Spence said Matthews leads by example and has been a great visionary for the school system. Frazier said when he thinks about Matthews, he thinks “church, community and school.”

Matthews said he’s proud of many things during his tenure, like ramping up to over 40 pathway focuses for students to prepare them for life after high school, construction projects and wrap around services like nurses in every school building, but he’s most proud of all the connections he’s made.

Matthews said it will be quite the transition for him, and he’ll always love his home, Barren County.