Over the last few months, several area school districts have announced a search for a new superintendent and that list now includes USD 253 Emporia.
During Wednesday’s USD 253 Board of Education meeting, it was announced that Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson Harder will be retiring at the end of the current school year June 30. She says it feels “surreal” to announce her retirement, but she says this was the right time to step aside.
Anderson Harder was named as interim superintendent in November of 2020 following the resignation of former Superintendent Kevin Case that same month. She was named the permanent superintendent in February of 2021.
Before taking on her current role, Anderson Harder served as principal of Walnut Elementary and the district’s director of special services for the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative in addition to various other leadership roles as part of a 28-year career with the district and over 30 years in education as a whole.
Board President Lillian Lingenfelter says Anderson-Harder was extremely active in the district.
Board member Jennifer Thomas says the district was “blessed” to have Anderson Harder as superintendent.
Board member Jeremy Dorsey says he enjoyed working with Anderson Harder and her presence will be missed.
Anderson Harder isn’t detailing her future plans, but she mentioned going into a totally new career during an interview with KVOE News on Wednesday. Her retirement will mean a major shift in leadership for Emporia as both Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Student Services Judy Stanley and Director of Human Resources Jared Giffin are set to wrap up their careers at the end of the current school term as well.
USD 253 plans to partner with Kansas Association of School Boards on the upcoming search. KASB will screen applicants and will work with a special committee responsible for screening candidate credentials. Once the board selects a superintendent, KASB will offer specialized training for both the board and the new superintendent. The cost to the district is $6,500.
The district will also post an online survey for community response Feb. 18-24, while a search consultant will meet with focus groups on suggested and recommended superintendent characteristics by March 5. Completed applications will be due to KASB by March 19, with interviews in late March and early April followed by a new superintendent announced April 7.
Emporia now joins several area districts looking for superintendents. USD 284 Chase County is nearing the interview stage with its search as Glenna Grinstead retires, while USD 386 Madison-Virgil has interviewed three candidates but has not announced a decision with the upcoming retirement of Tammy Baird. USD 421 Lyndon has also just officially started its search after a separation agreement was recently reached with Brad Marcotte.
7:20 pm Wednesday: USD 253 Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson Harder retiring
Over the last few months, several area school districts have announced a search for a new superintendent and that list now includes USD 253 Emporia.
During the most recent USD 253 Board of Education meeting, it was announced that Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson Harder will be retiring at the end of the current school year. Anderson Harder was named interim superintendent in November of 2020 following the resignation of former superintendent Kevin Case that same month.
Anderson Harder would be named the permanent superintendent just a few months later in February of 2021. Before taking on her current role, Anderson Harder served as the district’s director of special services for the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative and various other leadership roles as part of a better than 20-year career with the district up to that point.
Anderson Harder’s retirement will mean a major shift in leadership for Emporia as both Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Student Services Judy Stanley and Director of Human Resources Jared Giffin are set to wrap up their careers at the end of the current school term as well.
Including Emporia, four area school districts are now in search of new leadership. The list also includes USD 284 Chase County and USD 386 Madison-Virgil with the retirement announcements of Glenna Grinstead (Chase County) and Tammy Baird (Madison-Virgil) as well as 421 Lyndon following the termination of Brad Marcotte and the interim appointment of Paul Dorathy late last year.
