Meade County Schools is proud to announce Mr. Gene Sutton as a 2025 Greenwave Legacy Award honoree, recognizing his exceptional 41-year career in education and his lasting impact on the Meade County community.
Mr. Sutton served 18 years as a classroom teacher, one year as a pilot assistant principal, and 22 years as an elementary principal, with 29 of those years spent in Meade County Schools.
His connection to Meade County began in the eighth grade when his family moved from Louisville to Payneville. As a Meade County High School student, Mr. Sutton found consistency, friendship, and a love for football — earning two-time first-team all-conference honors, All-State honorable mentions, and MVP recognition as a lineman. His high school principal, Stuart Pepper, inspired him to pursue teaching and coaching, setting the course for his career.
After graduating from Western Kentucky University, Mr. Sutton returned to Payneville Elementary as a teacher and coach. He later moved to Stuart Pepper Middle School, where he helped launch the school’s traveling football program. In his final decade, he served as principal at Payneville Elementary, where his leadership fostered a culture of care, resulting in some of the highest attendance rates in the district year after year.
“Mr. Sutton’s leadership has always been grounded in relationships,” said Superintendent Dr. Mark Martin. “He cared deeply for his students, his staff, and his community, and that commitment made a difference every single day.”
Meade County Schools congratulates Mr. Sutton on this well-deserved honor and thanks him for his remarkable service to the Greenwave family.