This week marks a new era for the leadership of two Warren County Public School facilities.

District leaders and educators gathered twice at the central office to celebrate the announcement of two new principals.

IMPACT Center

WCPS’ IMPACT Center for Leadership & Innovation settled on its first principal Monday.

Cody Rich has served as principal of Jennings Creek Elementary School for the last two years. Now, he sets his sights on the versatile work-in-progress facility.

Rich said he intends for the center to be “completely additive” to what schools already accomplish district-wide, rather than acting as another layer of competition for teachers and programs.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is partnership with high schools and how we can make the whole district – high school, middle school, the district as a whole – a better place for students to learn and teachers to teach,” Rich said.

The IMPACT Center, which the district aims to complete by fall 2026, will function similar to a vocational education center for students in grades nine through 12. Classes will utilize competency-based grading rather than standard A through F grades.

The facility will offer industry certifications and micro-credentials – short, competency-based recognitions focused on high-need sectors in many STEM fields.

It will also utilize specialized “learning labs” that focus on everything from esports and engineering to network engineering and medical arts. The 11,500-square-foot facility will also serve as a hub for district events and competitions.

Superintendent Rob Clayton said the position for principal received “just under a dozen … extremely talented” applicants for the position, ultimately awarding it to Rich.

With the center’s focus on industry certification and collaboration, Clayton said an ability to engage with the wider community is essential to the position.

“Over two years as the leader of Jennings Creek Elementary School, (Rich) has fostered strong, positive relationships with not only our staff and students but the parent community as well,” Clayton said. “We’re confident that these experiences lend themselves to being a strong partner of our business and industry leaders locally.”

Rich previously served an assistant principal at Warren Central High School, a high school biology teacher, varsity boys’ head and assistant basketball coach, varsity girls’ head basketball coach and varsity head track coach.

Rich has also helped mentor aspiring principal candidates in conjunction with Western Kentucky University since 2020.

Warren Elementary

While the IMPACT Center received a new principal, Warren Elementary received a former one.

Clayton announced Tuesday that Josh Porter will take over as principal of Warren Elementary, returning to the role after five years as assistant principal at Bowling Green High School.

Porter, who was principal from 2010 to 2019, said his experiences in the school were “some of the best of my career” and his return to the position is a chance to follow his “passion.”

“When this came open, I was at a place in my life where we’re kind of empty nesters and different things and I said, ‘this is what I want to do, I want to go back and make a difference,’ ” Porter said.

The new Warren Elementary facility is slated to open in fall 2025, making Porter the first principal to walk the halls its inaugural year.

“The facility that we’ve been in the last 40 years is showing some wear and tear,” Porter said. “It’s going to be great to get into a new school. That brings a lot of excitement for teachers and for students.”

He acknowledged some difficulties that have grown nationally since his time at Warren – particularly with student absenteeism and a teacher shortage.

Porter said he wants parents to “see the importance of getting their kids back in school” while also fostering excitement among students themselves.

In addition, he said fostering a welcoming employment environment is similarly critical, adding he often encourages faculty and staff to share thoughts and concerns.

“I’m a big culture person,” Porter said. “I want everyone to know that they are important in education no matter what they do – bus drivers, custodians, they’re important in the education of every student that we have.”