Lori Beth Mays appointed director of curriculum, instruction, assessment

Montgomery County Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Lori Beth Mays as the district’s next Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, effective July 1.

Incoming Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Harris said Mrs. Mays’ experience, leadership, and commitment to student success make her an outstanding choice for the position.

“I am incredibly proud to welcome Lori Beth Mays as our new Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, a proven leader who brings 24 years of invaluable educational experience to this vital district role,” said Dr. Harris. “Over the last three years as principal of McNabb Middle School, Lori Beth has successfully driven year-over-year gains in student achievement, building upon a stellar 14-year legacy of leadership across both elementary and middle school levels. She possesses a profound passion for creating vibrant, engaging learning experiences that challenge and support every single student. Her deep-seated commitment to our core mission ensures she will be instrumental in cultivating excellence in everything we do across Montgomery County Schools.”

Mrs. Mays, a graduate of Georgetown College with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education and principal certification from Eastern Kentucky University, began her career as a teacher at Eastern Elementary School in Scott County before moving into leadership roles as dean of students at Scott County Middle School, assistant principal at Eastern Elementary, and principal of Lemons Mill Elementary School, where she led the school’s opening. She later served as assistant principal at Ashland Middle School and as the Ashland Independent School District’s elementary curriculum specialist before joining Montgomery County Schools as principal of McNabb Middle School in 2023. During her tenure at McNabb, the school has experienced three years of continuous academic growth and improvement.

“Lori Beth is an exceptional leader who brings principal experience across both elementary and middle school levels,” said Dr. Stacy Linn, incoming Chief Academic Officer for Montgomery County Schools. “After leading McNabb Middle School through three years of continuous growth, we are excited to welcome her to our district team. Her passion for deeper learning and growing students, teachers, and leaders will be invaluable as we work together to improve learning for all kids.”

Mrs. Mays said she is honored to continue serving the district in this new capacity.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve Montgomery County Schools as the next Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment,” said Mrs. Mays. “I look forward to partnering with schools across the district to support high-quality teaching and learning, develop leaders, and create opportunities for every student to thrive. I am excited to build on the strong foundation already in place and help advance the district’s vision of cultivating excellence for every student.”

With Mrs. Mays’ transition to her new role, Montgomery County Schools will immediately begin the process of selecting the next principal of McNabb Middle School. District leaders will work to ensure a smooth transition and identify a candidate who will continue building upon the school’s strong tradition of academic growth, student success, and school improvement.