The interim principal at Mill Creek Elementary has been named to the permanent position. Dr. LaRhonda Mathies takes the permanent reins at Mill Creek after serving as interim since July.
“We are excited to celebrate the official hiring of LaRhonda Mathies as the permanent principal at Mill Creek,” said Dr. Nate Meyer, assistant superintendent of Accelerated Improvement Schools. “We are eager to welcome a leader who will inspire students, support teachers, and foster a positive learning environment. Dr. Mathies has had a great experience as the interim principal and will continue to bring energy and innovative ideas to Mill Creek.”
Mathies spent 22 years in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) as a teacher and assistant principal before landing the job at Mill Creek.
“I am excited to become the new principal at Mill Creek Elementary School,” Mathies said. “In partnership with families, community supporters and staff, we will ensure a safe, 21st century learning environment focused on student-centered decisions and continuous school improvement”.
Mathies is a life-long resident of Louisville and grew up in the Shawnee neighborhood of West Louisville. She began her professional career with JCPS in 2002 as an elementary art teacher before moving to teaching middle school students. In 2012, she became an instructional coach and served in that role at Frost Sixth Grade Academy, The Academy @ Shawnee and Price Elementary School. She was an assistant principal at Coleridge-Taylor for four years before becoming the interim principal at Mill Creek.
“I have an unwavering belief in urban, public education which drives my dedication to building a high-performing, positive and inclusive school community,” Mathies said. “I’m committed to empowering our students and staff to accelerate learning through rigorous instruction, school supports, and teachers sharing best practices with each other.”
Mathies earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education from the University of Kentucky in 1999 and 2001 respectively. She completed her principal certification from Indiana University Southeast in 2010 and doctorate in educational leadership and organizational development from the University of Louisville in 2016. Her doctoral research examined perceptions of persistently disciplined Black girls and the school-to-prison pipeline in urban settings. Mathies is a graduate of the JCPS Emerging Leader Program which is building a pipeline of future school principals and educational leaders who promote high academic achievement for all children.