Citizen of the Week: Dr. Julie Turner

This week’s Citizen of the Week is Dr. Julie Turner, a lifelong educator who continues to shape young minds—long after retiring from the Fayette County Public School System.

With 32 years of experience in education, including 26 years in Fayette County, Dr. Turner’s journey began with a degree in geology and a plan to work in her father’s oil and gas business in Louisiana. But after the oil bust, she went back to school to become a science teacher. She quickly realized she had found her calling.

“I can do this. I can take my knowledge of science and impart this to students,” she remembered thinking. “I was just hooked.”

She first joined the Fayette County school system as a physical science teacher at Fayette County High. She went on to serve as the founding assistant principal of Starr’s Mill High School, then moved into leadership roles at Oak Grove Elementary, the district office, Hood Avenue Primary, and Kedron Elementary. Under her leadership, Kedron earned a perfect 100 on the state’s CCRPI score and was named a Blue Ribbon School for the second time.

“Being a principal is a hard job, but it’s also a very rewarding job,” Turner said. “I really got to come into that building and work with teachers to implement my vision, which was making sure we were consistent in delivering quality instruction from one classroom to the next.” 

In her final years before retirement in 2021, she returned to the district office as assistant superintendent, overseeing curriculum and instruction across the system.

“I think I had a little better insight into the work of the organization as a whole,” she said of her multiple roles. “Sometimes you’re tunnel-visioned on your own job. Because I had seen the bigger picture, I felt like I could bring that point of view and understand why some decisions were made and why certain things had to go certain ways.”

Today, Dr. Turner remains deeply committed to education in Fayette County. She co-leads Building Brains from the Beginning, a community initiative focused on supporting children from birth to age five—before they ever enter a classroom.

“It focuses on the development of children before they come to school,” she said. “So that when they arrive here in our schools, they’re ready.”

The initiative brings together educators, healthcare professionals, librarians, daycare providers, and community advocates. Together, they aim to equip families with the tools and knowledge needed to nurture early brain development.

“The people who are supporting this effort are from all across the community,” she said. “It’s a good group of people that is very interested in making sure kids get off to a great start so that they’re ready for school.”