Meet Joe Pat Covington
It has been an honor to serve as Judge Executive since January 2019. Proven leadership is vital to running a county government. A progressive vision for the future, fiscal management, effective budgeting, and a communicative partnership with all stakeholders are priorities. I will continue to provide that proven and principled leadership. Setting goals with the Fiscal Court and then working collaboratively to make those goals a reality has helped make my first term extremely successful for the citizens of Scott County.
Joe Pat Covington, a 1986 Scott County High School graduate, grew up in Scott County and attended Georgetown College where he majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry, Political Science, and Secondary Education. He later completed his first Master’s Degree in Education at Georgetown College and earned his second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Kentucky University. Joe is a former Georgetown Optimist Club Outstanding Youth Winner . A 2017 graduate of the Leadership Institute for School Principals from the nationally endorsed Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joe Pat resides in Scott County with his wife of 29 years, Veronica Morris Covington, and his three sons Jacob, Caleb, and Isaiah. They have been members of Southland Christian Church since 1994.
A Qualified Candidate
Serving for 27 years as a public educator, Joe Pat has worked at both Tates Creek High School and Scott County High School as a teacher. In 2007 Joe Pat returned to Scott County High School as an Assistant Principal. From 2015-2018 Joe Pat served as the Principal of Scott County High ,one of the largest high schools in Kentucky. His vast administrative experience in public education, which includes working and planning for the youth of tomorrow, managing programs and staff, and communicating with stakeholders, has prepared him for the demands of the office of Judge Executive. Joe Pat Covington is determined to devote all his energy for the progression of Scott County, the community he loves.
A Man of Many Strengths
Proven leadership is vital to running both a large high school and county government. Both require a progressive vision for the future, fiscal management and budgeting, and a communicative partnership with all stakeholders. In the 2017 Tell KY Survey, anonymously taken by Scott County High School Faculty and Staff and published online, 97.2% of staff stated they felt a shared vision for the school with him. Other qualities receiving over 97% approval ratings were using data to improve learning, assessing staff objectively, giving helpful feedback, and consistency. Other superior ratings of leadership include creating an atmosphere of trust and respect (94.4%), holding staff to high professional standards (95.8%), and comfort-level of staff to speak about issues and concerns that are important to them (95.8%).
As Principal, Joe Pat brought many new programs to the school, such as a Youth Mentoring Program, the Early Morning ACT prep class, a dedicated schedule for teachers to meet as professional learning communities. As Judge, Joe Pat will continue to be progressive and move Scott County forward through a shared vision with the community. As principal, Joe Covington has years of experience in budgeting and staffing. As Judge, he would collaborate with the Fiscal Court to be forward thinking for our fast-growing community, but also to be responsible in maintaining the surplus the county currently has developed. As Principal, Joe Pat has worked hard to develop community partnerships . Honesty with parents and students has always been a priority. As Judge, he will continue to keep the lines of communication open and lead the office with integrity.
Joe Pat Covington is a qualified candidate with proven leadership skills who vows to collaborate WITH you to move Scott County forward.