Beth Hutchinson has been named principal at Highland Elementary School, according to Daviess County Public Schools.
The announcement was made Monday afternoon ahead of a reception welcoming her to the new role. Hutchinson will officially begin her duties on July 1.
Hutchinson began her career in 2010 as an elementary classroom teacher at Highland Elementary, where she taught for three years. She later worked at Wright Elementary School in Shelby County Public Schools before returning to Daviess County, where she spent five years teaching second grade at East View Elementary.
During her time in the classroom, Hutchinson focused on creating engaging lesson plans across all content areas, implementing self-paced learning strategies, and maintaining strong communication with students, staff, and families.
She later served as an instructional coach at both East View and Highland elementary schools for four years, where she supported student learning, provided professional development, assisted with scheduling, and helped lead MTSS core teams while analyzing student data and developing family engagement opportunities.
Hutchinson currently serves as assistant principal at Highland Elementary, a role she has held for the past year. In that position, she has overseen teaching and learning, evaluated instructional processes, and helped implement schoolwide curriculum. She has also been responsible for student conduct systems, school activities, and special education program oversight.
Hutchinson holds three master’s degrees — two from University of the Cumberlands in administration, and one from Western Kentucky University in elementary education teacher leadership. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from University of Kentucky.
“It is an incredible honor to accept the principal position at Highland Elementary, a place that means so much to me and is known for its strong tradition of excellence,” Hutchinson said. “What makes Highland truly special is its people and the profound responsibility and privilege we share in changing children’s lives every single day. There is something truly extraordinary about Highland, and there is no greater community. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue this important work and uphold its legacy for many years to come.”
Dr. April Devine, assistant superintendent for human services, said the district conducted a thorough selection process and received strong feedback from stakeholders.
“Daviess County Public Schools has established a collaborative, thoughtful, and rigorous process for selecting school principals,” Devine said. “We were fortunate to have an exceptional pool of candidates for Highland Elementary. Through surveys and feedback sessions, Highland stakeholders expressed a desire for a student-centered leader who is hardworking, visible, and has a strong focus on academics and achievement. We are thrilled to introduce Beth Hutchinson as the next principal of Highland Elementary. Mrs. Hutchinson is a dedicated advocate for students and a passionate champion of excellence for all HES students.”
