Abner Named BHS Principal

David Kyle Abner will be the next principal of Breathitt High School.

Breathitt County Superintendent Philip Watts announced to parents and staff shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the hiring of Abner as the twentieth principal of Breathitt High School.

Abner has served for several years as an assistant principal at the school.

“After careful consideration and consultation with the Breathitt High School-Based Decision- Making Council, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Kyle Abner as Principal of Breathitt High School,” Watts announced to district stakeholders.

He will become the twentieth principal since Breathitt was established at Quicksand in 1926.

“Having been a student here and now stepping into the role of principal after serving as a teacher, interventionist, coach, and assistant principal over the past several years is both humbling and meaningful,” Abner said.  “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this community.”

Abner is the son of David W. and Carol Ann (Hamilton) Abner and is a 2007 graduate of Breathitt High School.

At Morehead State University, I pursued a teaching degree with an emphasis on Social Studies.  He completed his student teaching at Breathitt High School before graduating from MSU in 2013.

He served as the head coach of the BHS Girls’ Basketball team from 2017-2018, after working three years as an assistant coach under Wallace Bates.  He also served as an assistant for the boys’ team under Coach John Noble and as a golf coach.

After teaching for several years, he was hired as an Assistant Principal in January 2023.

“I have benefited from the guidance of many outstanding leaders, whose example continues to shape my approach to leadership,” Abner said.

Officials posted the position of head principal on May 1, after Principal Daphne Noble announced her retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.  The BHS Site Decision Making Council interviewed candidates on May 20.

Abner, 37, is married with one child and will assume the appointment on July 1, 2026.