A familiar face to USD 253 Emporia is looking to be its next superintendent.
Wednesday, Dr. David McGehee, the former USD 253 Emporia Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, was named as the last finalist to interview for the job. McGehee was named to the interim role back in 2023 following the sudden separation between the district and Rob Scheib.
McGehee held the role for six months and in that time, he says he developed a deep care for the district, which in part led to him applying for the role.
Audio PlayerIf chosen for the superintendent position, McGehee says his familiarity with the district and its leadership would be a great help to him in the early days of his tenure.
Audio PlayerIn addition to his interim role with USD 253, McGehee’s prior education experience included 10 years as Superintendent at Lee’s Summit, Missouri, District R-7. He was named as Missouri State Superintendent of the Year and was included in both “Fifty Faces of Head Start” and Ingram’s Magazine “Icon of Education.” He also co-founded the Missouri Innovation Campus.
McGehee separated from Lee’s Summit R-7 in 2016 after concerns about performance, salary and potential conflicts of interest, a development that led to some controversy with his interim appointment back in 2023. KVOE News asked if he felt that controversy would work against him as he seeks to become the district’s next leader.
McGehee responded by saying:
Audio PlayerMcGehee added that Wednesday will be a great opportunity to build trust with district stakeholders.
Audio PlayerAs for the main areas he would look to focus on if chosen, McGehee says he is not going into the interview process with any definite plans, noting the importance of being open and receptive to the needs and concerns of district stakeholders.
Audio PlayerMcGehee follows USD 331 Kingman-Norwich Superintendent Kevin Hansford, who was interviewed Tuesday, and USD 367 Osawatomie Superintendent Greg Clark, who was interviewed Monday. USD 253 plans to announce its new superintendent this upcoming Monday as current leader Allison Anderson Harder retires effective July 1.
9 am Wednesday:
Now all three finalists have been named for Emporia Public Schools superintendent.
David McGehee, an interim assistant superintendent for business and operations in 2023 following the sudden separation between the district and Rob Scheib, was named as the third candidate to reach the finalist phase and started the interview process Wednesday morning.
McGehee came to USD 253 after serving as a consultant through ESSDACK following his time as superintendent at Lee’s Summit, Missouri, District R-7. He was named as Missouri State Superintendent of the Year and was included in both “Fifty Faces of Head Start” and Ingram’s Magazine “Icon of Education.” He also co-founded the Missouri Innovation Campus. McGehee separated from Lee’s Summit R-7 in 2016 after concerns about performance, salary and potential conflicts of interest.
As part of his time in education, including his time in Lee’s Summit, McGehee also has served as superintendent at Missouri’s Sparta and Raymore-Peculiar school districts.
McGehee follows USD 331 Kingman-Norwich Superintendent Kevin Hansford, who interviewed Tuesday, and USD 367 Osawatomie Superintendent Greg Clark, who interviewed Monday. USD 253 plans to announce its new superintendent this upcoming Monday as current leader Allison Anderson Harder retires effective July 1.
