Heart Of The Hawks

How do you make everyday moments extraordinary?

This is the superpower of Marsha Duncan, LaRue County Schools' Emotional Support Specialist.

On any given day, Duncan can be found serving throughout the district. At the start of the day, she might be checking in with a staff member at LaRue County High School when she receives a call to one of the elementary schools to conduct a threat assessment for a student. In the afternoon, you’ll find her at LaRue County Middle School with the LaRue County Schools Care Team, delivering encouraging notes and treats to staff with the legendary Woot Woot Wagon.

“Marsha is a true servant of LaRue County. She exemplifies positivity and makes our school district a better place every day,” says Penny Cecil, LaRue County Schools' Director of Pupil Personnel. “Her position requires her to be on call 24/7, and she does this with a servant’s heart. She is a fierce protector of our students, constantly looking out for their emotional and physical well-being.”

But the halls of LaRue County Schools aren’t the only place you’ll find Duncan. Her passion and expertise extend beyond the district as she regularly educates other school systems on Crisis Response. When other districts experience a crisis, she joins her colleagues to provide mental health support for students and staff.

For Superintendent Adryanne Warren, Duncan is a key member of the LCS culture:

“Marsha is the type of person you want on your team. She not only handles some of the toughest crisis situations imaginable in a school district, but she also knows how to deliver a well-timed joke to bring a smile to your face during an ordinary meeting. If you want to see what being a Hawk is truly about, just look at the example she sets.”

Cecil, who works closely with Duncan and has known her for decades, sums up what so many in the district feel:

“Marsha has become such a vital part of LaRue County Schools that it’s hard to imagine our district without her. She has created an atmosphere of empathy and support, and she leads by example. She is constantly teaching all of us how to respond in a way that truly helps others.”

Throughout her tenure at LCS, Duncan has served in many capacities, but she can best be described as simply, the Heart of the Hawks.