Thursday marks the end of an era for USD 252 Southern Lyon County as longtime superintendent Mike Argabright officially retires.
On KVOE’s Morning Show this week, Argabright said there are a lot of highlights to his career, starting with the district’s success with the Kansas State Department of Education’s Star Awards program for student outcomes.
Argabright also says the district’s successful Honor Flight, where students serve as guardians to veterans on a two-day trip to Washington, DC, has been a career highlight. He credited former USD 421 Lyndon superintendent Brian Spencer for helping the program take shape.
Argabright says time in athletics while in high school, notably in running his school’s weight room, helped to open the door for education — along with conversations with his mother and a librarian. He says it became obvious early that education was his calling.
While he says educators are training students for success in the work world, including careers that haven’t even been developed yet, he’s also concerned about political pressures surrounding public education — especially because local and area businesses are looking to establish or strengthen partnerships with school districts.
As part of a 40-year education career, Argabright is wrapping up his 17th year leading USD 252 — including being named as the Kansas School Superintendent Association’s superintendent of the year last year — after 16 years leading USD 389 Eureka as superintendent. Besides his time leading the district, Argabright has been heavily involved in a lot of community projects, including the Newman Regional Health Board of Trustees, United Way of the Flint Hills, Ignite Emporia, SOS, Emporia Friends of the Zoo and others. He’s also been involved in a host of statewide education organizations.
Ryan Muhlig, a Council Grove native and currently the principal at Colby High, was named as the district’s new superintendent in February. Argabright says the district is in a good place academically and financially, and he says USD 252 has a solid foundation going forward. He also says Muhlig will bring a lot of energy to the position, which will be needed as Muhlig assumes his new responsibilities.
