NEWPORT, KY − A baby sweater with a Newport Wildcat sewn on it is framed in Newport Superintendent Matt Atkins’ office. Made by his mom, he wore it to local football and basketball games before he could even walk.
Atkins grew up in Newport, graduated from Newport High School in 2000, and as of July 1, began his tenure as superintendent of Newport Independent School District. The five-school district is home to about 1,400 students who will go back to school Aug. 12.
“I think it’s humbling in terms of literally going from student to teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and then superintendent,” Atkins told The Enquirer.
But his new job also comes at the tail end of the district’s financial difficulties, something he is determined not to let happen again.
Recovering from ‘financial messiness’
Newport Independent School District’s financial difficulties began in 2024, when it announced a $1.9 million deficit. But it reached a breaking point in early 2025 when it announced a projected $3.9 deficit, The Enquirer reported.
By that May, former Superintendent Tony Watts had resigned from his position three years before the end of his contract, pocketing a $175,000 payout.
While it’s unclear why he resigned, his personnel file revealed a tension between Watts and the school board stretching back for years. This included conflicts relating to the district’s budget.
In August 2025, the district announced that budget revisions, added revenue, and expense controls had led the district to a $1.19 million surplus, LINK nky reported.
Atkins knows all the details about the district’s previous financial struggles. He was interim superintendent for a year before he landed the job permanently.
“Stepping into this role, there’s also the issue of that financial messiness,” he acknowledged. “We really want to stay disciplined and know what our priorities are.”
District Board Chair Ramona Malone said Atkins came into his role as interim superintendent with a 30, 60, and 90 day plan to address the district’s finances, culture, academics, and staffing.
And since he’d worked with teachers and administrators for almost two decades, Malone said his plans went over well.
“They knew his love for Newport, his character, his commitment to the students and the family,” she said. “That really settled a lot of things down in the district at a time when things were under a lot of turmoil.”
From football star to superintendent
Atkins never missed a day of school from kindergarten to senior year, he told The Enquirer.
“That goes along with my parents and what they instilled in me – that school is important,” he said.
He attended Mildred Dean Elementary School (which is now closed) and later graduated from Newport High School where he played football all four years under legendary Northern Kentucky coach Roy Lucas Sr.
“He had just a way of commanding presence and respect,” Atkins said. “I really learned a lot from him.”
Atkins went on to play football at Thomas More University where he was named Third-Team All-American his junior and senior years.
“My senior year I was MVP, which is a big deal for being an offensive lineman,” he added.
After he earned a degree in secondary education social studies, he briefly taught at a middle school in Pendleton County.
“My goal was always to come back to Newport. It truly is my home,” he said.
As soon as a position opened, he started working at Newport Intermediate School, where he taught social studies before becoming assistant principal for about four years. He then became principal at Newport Primary School for about eight years.
He later received his superintendent certificate from Xavier University and was interim superintendent at the school until he landed the job. It pays $165,000 his first year.
“He was homegrown,” Malone said. “That means he has some roots in Newport and I think that’s a great asset and attribute for us as a district.”
These days, Atkins lives in Fort Thomas with his wife, Sarah Atkins, and their three children.
He usually starts his morning at one of the schools in the district and makes his way to a different school around lunchtime. When the day ends, he’s back among teachers and students instead of in his office.
“I really want to be visible,” Atkins said. “I want them to know who I am and know my name.”
Have a news tip? Comment? You can reach Northern Kentucky reporter Jolene Almendarez at jolenea@usatodayco.com or follow her on social media. Keep up with Northern Kentucky news at NKY.com or by downloading our NKY news app.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Matt Atkins went from Newport football player to superintendent
Reporting by Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
