Dr. Leon Ben is the new superintendent of the Fort Thomas School District. He brings to the district a proud American Indian heritage and impressive leadership credentials.

Dr. Ben is a Navajo and a Morenci High School graduate. His entire career has been spent working in Arizona. Before coming to Fort Thomas he was the Chinle School District superintendent. While there his leadership skills were instrumental in helping every school in the district progress as he focused on attendance and academics. He plans to lead Fort Thomas in the same manner and make similar improvements.

Dr. Ben’s focus on the empowerment of Native American communities will be a great asset to Fort Thomas where more than 90% of the students are Apaches. Among his plans for improvement, professional development for teachers and parental involvement will be some of his top priorities. He believes these are two components that help all kids learn.

Sherry Porter has a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. In 1994 she began teaching in the Ft. Thomas District where she taught multiple grade levels in the district. Sherry has coordinated all of the district's state and federal projects since 2004.

Her role of Federal Projects Coordinator includes writing, implementing, and reporting grant projects for the district as well as providing professional development opportunities for teachers and staff. Sherry coordinates all Federal and State funding projects that are aligned to the Ft. Thomas District 7 Consolidated Plan. Under her direction are the following Education Projects:

• Title I - Provides at-risk funding for general education
• Title II – Teacher Quality and Professional Development funds 
• Title IV - Safe and Drug-Free Schools Grant 
• Title V - Innovative Programs Project 
• Title VII - Indian Education Grant
• Johnson O'Malley Indian Education Projects 
• Early Childhood Program 
• School Improvement Funding 
• The Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) 
• The 21st Century Community Afterschool Learning Program 
• The Systemic Change in Reading Project

Mrs. Porter is always available to assist teachers in securing classroom grants. Her major goal is to help locate funding that will give the teachers and staff the tools they need to help students be successful in their educational efforts.