JCPS Communications Director Resigns Amid Turnover
Louisville families with children in JCPS should watch for interim leadership changes in district updates.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Administration
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Barnard Baker has resigned as communications director for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, with his last day set for Friday, Nov. 13. Rachel Scott, the district's current Director of Communications and Community Relations, will serve as interim executive officer of communications after his departure.
Why it matters
Baker was the fourth district communications staffer to leave in the past year, and his resignation letter cited ongoing issues at JCPS that he said make it difficult to fulfill the role consistent with his professional standards. For Louisville families, steady communication from the district about school operations, schedules, and policy changes matters, and continued turnover in that office raises questions about how those updates will flow in the months ahead.
Barnard Baker's last day with Jefferson County Public Schools is Friday, Nov. 13, after a four-month stint as communications director. His departure marks the fourth district communications staffer to leave in the past year.
The players
Jefferson County Public Schools
The Louisville-area district serving the county's public school students, whose communications office handles updates to families and the community.
Rachel Scott
JCPS Director of Communications and Community Relations, who will serve as interim executive officer of communications after Baker's departure.
Barnard Baker
Former JCPS communications director whose four-month tenure ends with his resignation effective Nov. 13.
The details
Baker announced his resignation in a letter saying the decision was not made lightly. In that letter he wrote that current conditions prevented him from performing his role to his standards, pointing to the ongoing issues at JCPS as the reason. Rachel Scott, who currently serves as JCPS Director of Communications and Community Relations, will step in as interim executive officer of communications once Baker leaves.
Timeline
Baker took the JCPS communications director position four months before Nov. 6, 2026.
Baker officially resigned from the communications director position on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.
Baker's last day with JCPS is Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
The Home Front
Communications offices at large school systems serve as the main channel between districts and the families who rely on them for schedules, closures, and policy updates. Repeated staff departures in such offices can shape how consistently those updates reach households across a metro area like Louisville.
If your child attends a JCPS school, check the district's official website and school communications channels for schedules and closure notices as the interim leadership takes over. Keep your contact information current with your child's school so you receive urgent updates directly.
The takeaway
Staff turnover in a district's communications office can affect how quickly families get important updates, so it is worth confirming how you receive school notices. Save your child's school contact and the district's official site so you have a reliable source during the transition.
Further reading
For more context on how district leadership changes are managed, explore our Administration coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wdrbwave.
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