October 9, 2025
Dear Carter County Families, Staff, Community and Students,
The Carter County Board of Education recently selected me to serve as the school district’s superintendent for the next four years. I am deeply honored to serve in this role and am excited about all the great things happening across our schools. Over the next several years, we will face some important challenges—completing the construction of our new consolidated high school and Career and Technical Center (CTC), addressing the age and upkeep of our existing facilities, and managing a gradual decline in student enrollment. I believe that with strong leadership, transparent communication, and community partnership, we can successfully navigate these challenges and continue moving Carter County Schools forward.
Consistent and timely communication is a priority, so I want to provide an update on our new high school and CTC. While the Board initially aimed to complete the project by 2027–2028, rising construction costs and unforeseen site expenses have required adjustments. After careful consideration, the Board has decided to move forward with a phased construction approach to ensure responsible financial stewardship while maintaining steady progress. The first phase, already underway, involved land purchase and site development. The next phase—scheduled to go out to bid in March 2026—will be the construction of the Career and Technical Center portion of the high school along with facilities such as the cafeteria and additional classrooms that will allow students to stay on site all day.
The CTC will be a state-of-the-art facility for students from both East and West Carter High Schools, offering programs such as welding, agriculture, heavy equipment operation, business, health sciences, pre-nursing, education, engineering, construction, and soon, electricity and plumbing. It will provide hands-on learning and career preparation to ensure students are ready for college, careers, and beyond. Future phases will complete the high school’s classrooms, gymnasium, auditorium, and athletic fields, while allowing time to improve infrastructure and secure additional funding.
The Carter County Board of Education and I want to acknowledge and express sincere appreciation to State Senator Robin Webb and State Representative Patrick Flannery for their unwavering support and advocacy. Their efforts have been instrumental in securing funding for school facilities across the region, including $37 million in special appropriations for Carter County. They have provided invaluable guidance as we move this project forward, and their commitment to the students and families of Carter County is deeply appreciated.
As we move forward together, I am committed to keeping the Board and our community informed. By working transparently, collaborating closely, and maintaining a student-first focus, we will continue to strengthen Carter County Schools and uphold our GOLD Standard of Excellence.
If you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out to me. You may email (jennifer.fraley@carter.kyschools.us) or call (606.474.6696).
Respectfully,
Jennifer Fraley\
Jennifer Fraley, Ed.D. Superintendent