USD 253 Emporia Public Schools is bringing back an interim administrator to lead the district full-time.
Board members approved David McGehee, the district’s interim assistant superintendent for business and operations back in 2023. Board Vice-President Jami Reever tells KVOE News McGehee’s experience will help with the upcoming transition.
Audio PlayerUSD 253 says McGehee’s selection was supported by positive comments from staff, community members and the Emporia NEA, which said: “On behalf of the Emporia NEA, we would like to warmly welcome Dr. David McGehee to the Emporia School District. We look forward to working with him and supporting his leadership in our schools.”
In an interview with KVOE News Monday, McGehee stated he felt “blessed” to be returning to Emporia a district he says he developed a great care and passion for during his previous tenure.
Audio PlayerAs for immediate goals and objectives for his new role, McGehee says there are some obvious areas the district will need to focus its time and efforts on; however, he believes the first few months of his tenure will be spent listening to district stakeholders and evaluating the most crucial areas of need.
Audio PlayerMcGehee’s previous experience included a decade as superintendent at Lee’s Summit, Missouri, as well as superintendent of the year, co-founding the Missouri Innovation Campus and overseeing a district that received the local Chamber of Commerce Ethics in Business Award. He also served eight years on the American Association of School Administrators’ Governing Board.
When McGehee left Lee’s Summit in 2016, there were concerns about performance, salary and potential conflicts of interest, but McGehee says there was misinformation and Reever says his transparency was a characteristic applauded by the board, along with his experience and accolades.
Audio Player9:40 am Monday:
An intensive two-month search has led to a new superintendent for Emporia Public Schools.
The Board of Education unanimously approved former Missouri Superintendent of the Year David McGehee, an interim assistant superintendent for USD 253, during a special Zoom meeting Monday.
McGehee was one of three finalists to interview last week, including:
*Kevin Hansford, currently superintendent at USD 331 Kingman-Norwich
*Greg Clark, currently superintendent at USD 367 Osawatomie
Allison Anderson Harder, the district’s superintendent since 2021 and an administrator at the building or district level for nearly 30 years, announced her retirement in February and will officially retire July 1.
This is a developing story. Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for more information.
