USD 253 Emporia now has plans in place for an interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations once the contract for the current interim administrator ends later this year.
Board members approved Pam Stranathan for the role effective July 1. Superintendent Allison Anderson-Harder says the onboarding process is already off to a fast start.
Stranathan, who is an ESSDACK consultant, served as Gardner-Edgerton’s superintendent from 2014-2021. A conservative shift in the board’s political direction — and related concerns about Stranathan’s COVID-19 policies — led to a push to terminate her contract. She will supplant David McGenee, another ESSDACK consultant who replaced longtime assistant superintendent Rob Scheib following Scheib’s dismissal earlier this month. McGenee’s interim contract ends June 30.
Also, the board approved the hire of Dr. Erica Mickelson, currently the USD 437 Auburn-Washburn director of elementary education, as Emporia’s new Director of Teaching and Learning. Anderson-Harder says Mickelson will jump into several focal points, including ongoing work on math, social-emotional and behavioral items.
Mickelson replaces Jessica Holden, who resigned in late August. Like Stranathan, Mickelson officially begins July 1.
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USD 253 Emporia has a new Director of Teaching and Learning on the way. It also has a new interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations coming.
Dr. Erica Mickelson was appointed as the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning. Most recently, Mickelson has served as USD 437 Auburn-Washburn’s director of elementary education. She replaces Jessica Holden, who resigned in late August.
Also, the board approved Pam Stranathan as Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations. Stranathan’s appointment is effective July 1 and follows a turbulent period for that office over the past few weeks. Prior assistant superintendent Rob Scheib was placed on paid administrative leave almost immediately after the Feb. 8 board meeting. The district then separated from Scheib and partnered with ESSDACK for an interim finance officer. Former Lee’s Summit, Missouri, superintendent Dave McGehee — who had reached an agreement to resign from his prior district after a suspension involving concerns about performance, salary and potential conflicts of interest — was named as the interim finance officer during a special board meeting Feb. 10.
The district has not said why it parted ways with Scheib. It also has not addressed McGehee’s suspension and later resignation from Lee’s Summit.
Stranathan, who is also an ESSDACK consultant, served as Gardner-Edgerton’s superintendent from 2014-2021. A conservative shift in the board’s political direction — and related concerns about Stranathan’s COVID-19 policies — led to a push to terminate her contract.
Both moves came during the board meeting’s consent agenda, where several items can be handled with one vote. Both Stranathan and Mickelson will start their new positions July 1.
