Veteran educator and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) leader Dr. Joseph Ellison, III will take the helm at Doss High School effective July 1, 2026.
Ellison steps into the role with a clear vision, a deep commitment to equity, and an impressive 25-year career in education spanning teaching, school-level administration, and central office leadership.
“I am honored to join Doss High School as the new executive principal,” Ellison said. “Doss is a school with a proud history and a deeply committed community, and I am excited to begin this work alongside staff, students, and families in a school with such tremendous promise.”
Ellison most recently served as the assistant superintendent of High Schools for JCPS, where he oversaw and supported 27 high schools across the district. In that role, he successfully led initiatives that expanded Advanced Placement, Cambridge, International Baccalaureate, and Dual Credit programs. He was also instrumental in managing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, increasing student access to high rigor courses and industry certifications that has led to record high Postsecondary Readiness and graduation rates over the last five years.
His extensive leadership portfolio within JCPS and surrounding districts also includes roles as the executive administrator of High Schools in JCPS, principal of Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelby County Public Schools, and assistant principal of Seneca, Southern, and Fern Creek High Schools.
Ellison holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Cumberland College, a Master of Arts in Education from Western Kentucky University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Urban Development from the University of Louisville.
"Dr. Ellison is an exceptional leader with a proven history of breaking down barriers and accelerating student achievement within our high schools," said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood. "His deep understanding of the Academies of Louisville structure and his relentless focus on equity make him a great fit to lead Doss High School into its next chapter of success."
Central to his vision for Doss is ensuring that every single student achieves a "Diploma+" status—meaning they graduate not just with a high school diploma but with a concrete plan and path toward college or the workforce. He intends to leverage the existing Academies of Louisville structure at Doss to provide the robust academic, career and technical, and emotional support systems students need to thrive, he said.
Ellison also openly embraces the challenge of school turnaround work. He emphasized that sustainable improvement relies heavily on a unified, collective effort.
"Lasting improvement comes through partnership: students fully engaged in their learning, families as trusted collaborators, staff united around a shared vision, and community partners invested in student outcomes," Ellison said. "I am confident that, working together, we will deliver on the promise our students deserve."