Lovett wants to take next career step here

By Brian York
Tribune-Courier Reporter
byork@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE – Trent Lovett has held many positions during his employment with Marshall County schools, each involving a new step in his career.

Lovett, the 42-year-old principal at Marshall County High School, is now trying to reach what he hopes is the final step, Superintendent of Marshall County Schools.

In his nearly 20-year career as an educator and administrator in Marshall County, Lovett has been a teacher, coach and principal.

“I began teaching during the 1988-89 school year at South Marshall Middle School and I taught math,” Lovett said. “I taught there for one year and then came to the high school the next year.”

Lovett spent three years teaching, before taking a brief job at the Bank of Benton during the 1993-94 school year. However, he spent just one year away from school before realizing that it was exactly where he needed to be.

“The year I was out of teaching, I was away from kids and didn’t have any involvement with students,” Lovett said. “I realized at that time it wasn’t fulfilling to me that I wasn’t doing something that I had always been around.”

There was an opening to teach science, so Lovett, who had always taught math, went in to talk with then Superintendent Kenneth Shadowen.

Shadowen asked Lovett what his goals were as he was getting back into education, Lovett replied “to one day be in your seat.”

“I didn’t know at that time what was going to happen for me down the road, but I was just happy to get back into teaching,” Lovett said. “I think as you move up the ladder, you don’t move up without doing a good job where you are at, and that has kept me focused. I have always strived to do a good job, whether it’s teaching math or science, or being an assistant principal at North Middle School.”

Lovett said the most rewarding part about being in the educational field is making a difference in a students life.

“When a kid comes back, and maybe they have graduated or you see something they have written in their portfolio, and it was something you have done to maybe make the light bulb go off for them,” Lovett said, “knowing that you have cared enough for that student those are the best rewards you can get, and money can’t buy that. When someone comes back to thank you for maybe taking that extra second to talk with them when things weren’t going that well.”

Lovett is the son of Jerry and Brenda Lovett of Benton and has been married to his wife Lisa for nearly 17 years. They have three kids Landon, a 14-year-old freshman at MCHS; Tucker a 10-year-old fourth grader at Benton Elementary; and Gabbi, who is six and in preschool.

Lovett graduated from Marshall County High School in 1983 and from Murray State University in 1988 with a major in math and a minor in physics.

Harrison relying on Graves County experience

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

MAYFIELD – The search for Marshall County Schools superintendent has come down to two potential candidates, and Graves County native Kim Harrison is in the running.
Raised in the little community of Wingo, Harrison is the middle of five children to Margaret and James Miller, a retired construction worker.

“My father always taught me to walk the talk,” Harrison said. “That’s how we make a difference — teaching by example. It’s a lesson I’ve tried to carry with me throughout my life.”

The 43-year old superintendent hopeful graduated in 1982 from Wingo High School and was educated at Murray State University, where she received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, specializing in grades one through eight. She later moved on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Guidance and Council, Principalship and Superintendent certification.

With that education, Harrison has spent the last 20 years devoting her life to the field. Harrison was an elementary school and middle school language arts teacher for 13 years before she moved up to become principal of Wingo Elementary for four years.

Now, she is currently in her third year as Elementary Supervisor of Instruction at the Graves County Board of Education.

“Primarily, I work with instruction and teachers to keep them updated on current methods to exercise in the classroom,” Harrison said. “Basically, I work as an instructional coach — the more we train our people, the better things will be for our students, and that’s our top priority.”

Wife of 10 years to Marshall County native Ken Harrison, the couple has three daughters, Andrea, Elizabeth and Kelsey Beach. And as a parent, Harrison said she understands the importance of working with parents to help make a difference in the lives of their children.

“I believe that every person is a teacher in some discipline,” Harrison said. “And that’s the most rewarding aspect of this field, really, Working with parents and teachers to make good things happen for our students — to bring out the real potential of each child.”

Harrison is no stranger to the faculty of Marshall County Schools, either. Harrison said she has been cohorting with Murray State in district instructional training and has gotten to know several of the county’s teachers.

“There are a lot of good people and talent in Marshall County just waiting to be tapped into,” Harrison said. “I think I can help with that, and I’m excited about the prospect of working with them.”

Harrison interviewed with Marshall County School Board officials on Feb. 5, though a final decision is not yet set in stone. The Board met again on Tuesday, and the Superintendent candidacy was discussed at that time, though whether a decision was reached then is not yet known.

In the meantime, Harrison is biding her time and hoping for the best.

“I’ve spent many years focusing on instructional aspects, and I’ve had the pleasure of running a school as a principal before. And I believe I have the knowledge and the experience to offer the district and serve it well.”