Both a familiar face and a new face to USD 253 Emporia Public Schools will be assuming leadership roles within the district later this year.
During the USD 253 Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, the board approved the appointment of Jared Giffin to Director of Human Resources. Giffin currently serves as the interim Executive Director of Teaching and Learning and has been with the district since August of 1995.
During that time he has filled a number of roles including as a classroom teacher, assistant principal at Emporia High School and head principal at both Logan Avenue and Riverside Elementary schools. Giffin will take over for Brad Kempf who has served in the role in an interim capacity since last year after the retirement of Kelly Bolin.
Giffin says he has some “big shoes to fill” but he is looking forward to the task and says there is one key area he plans to focus on right off the bat.
In addition to Giffin’s appointment, the district has also selected current Fort Hays State University instructor and ESOL Program Coordinator Dr. Jessica Holden to serve as the Director of Teaching and Learning for the coming school year. Aside from her time at Fort Hays, Holden brings a wealth of knowledge to the district having served in multiple roles throughout her career including as the Interim Head of School in Panama City, Panama, a principal and assistant principal for Topeka USD 501, an instructional coach at Seaman USD 437, Curriculum Specialist in Florida, and a gifted and talented educator in New York.
In a news release from the district, Holden states, “I am excited to join the USD 253 family! The mission of the district to lead, inspire, develop and support are at the core of what I believe as an educator. In the short time I have had the pleasure of meeting the leadership team, I know I am joining a team that strives for excellence and that values not only students and their families but educators and community members as a whole. It is a privilege to have this opportunity and I look forward to working with this team.”
Both Giffin and Holden will assume their new roles in July.
