Pike Road Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Lankford will step down from his role effective June 30, 2026, under a transition plan approved during the Board of Education’s March 23, 2025 meeting.
The plan prioritizes keeping the district’s major construction and development initiatives on schedule while the Board prepares to begin its search for a new superintendent.
District leaders said Lankford has been considering retirement for several months “to begin his next chapter.” To maintain momentum on ongoing projects, Lankford and the Board agreed that following his resignation as superintendent, he will transition into a focused role overseeing construction and development.
In a letter shared with the community, Lankford confirmed he will accept a contract as assistant superintendent effective July 1, 2026, with a targeted portfolio centered on capital projects. He plans to retire from the district on January 1, 2027, after those projects are delivered.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I formally submit my resignation as Superintendent of Pike Road Schools, effective June 30, 2026,” Lankford wrote, noting that serving the district for the past four years has been “one of the greatest honors” of his career. He highlighted the district’s “significant academic, financial, and capital milestones” achieved during his tenure and emphasized continuity during the leadership transition.
In his forthcoming assistant superintendent role, Lankford said his primary focus will be the successful management and completion of several critical capital projects, including:
- The completion of the new high school
- Extensive renovations and additions at the intermediate school
- Construction of new roadways serving both the elementary school and the new high school
“To ensure a seamless transition for the incoming superintendent and to maintain the momentum of our ongoing district growth, I am pleased to accept a contract as Assistant Superintendent, effective July 1, 2026,” he wrote. “Upon the successful delivery of these projects, it is my intent to officially retire from the district effective January 1, 2027.”
Lankford was named the third superintendent of Pike Road Schools in March 2022 after the Pike Road Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to hire him at a called meeting on March 15, 2022.
A longtime Alabama educator, Lankford graduated from Enterprise High School and served in the U.S. Army and the National Guard before entering education. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Troy University, an Education Specialist degree from Jacksonville State University, and a doctorate from the University of Alabama. Over the course of his career, he has worked at nearly every level in education—from paraprofessional to six years as a superintendent—bringing classroom, school, and district leadership experience to Pike Road Schools.
Lankford and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 36 years and have two adult children, Colten and Kara.
The district said it is sharing the transition timeline now to keep stakeholders informed as preparations begin for the superintendent search.
Lankford closed his letter by thanking Pike Road’s teachers, staff, administrators, central office personnel, and students, writing that the district’s progress reflects their dedication and that he looks forward to ensuring a smooth hand-off to the next superintendent.
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