PADUCAH - The National Association of Secondary Schools Principals (NASSP) named Paducah Tilghman High School Principal Deatrik Kinney as its 2026 High School Principal of the Year for Kentucky.
The Kentucky Association of Secondary School Principals nominated Kinney. The state association recognizes high-performing principals who model best practices and outstanding secondary school leadership annually.
Kinney has 18 years of experience in education, including his time serving as Paducah Tilghman’s principal for the last two and a half years. Notable achievements in his tenure include the Kentucky Department of Education recognizing Tilghman as a “High Performing High School” for student success on the 2024-25 Kentucky Summative Assessment Test. PTHS students also scored the highest Advanced Placement (AP) test pass rate in five years and took a record number of AP tests overall. During Kinney’s tenure as principal, Tilghman post-secondary readiness numbers rose to a record high showing the school’s focus on overall student success.
“Mr. Kinney is an infectious leader who is passionate about each student’s individual success,” says Paducah Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Donald Shively. “As Tilghman’s principal, his leadership has established that excellence is the only acceptable level of achievement for both our students and staff – which is reflected in Tilghman’s most recent Advanced Placement and state testing scores.” Kinney says being Kentucky’s high school principal of the year is a tremendous honor. “An achievement like this cannot happen without tremendous students, fabulous teachers and staff, and a great leadership team. I’m proud of what Tilghman can do together.”
In April, Kinney will travel to the National Educational Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C., where NASSP will announce its National High School Principal of the Year. Dr. Shively says, “This recognition reaffirms that the tradition of excellence at Tilghman has and will continue. We wish Mr. Kinney the best of luck as he moves on to the national principal of the year competition.”
Kinney’s career began at Fulton County Schools teaching K-12 health and physical education from 2008 – 2016. He helped lead Todd County Central High School as assistant principal for two years before being promoted to principal in 2018. Kinney joined Paducah Tilghman administration in 2021, serving as assistant principal and director of athletics.
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