Iola Superintendent Brian Pekarek was asked to help spur interest in his profession by the Kansas Association of School Boards due to an increasingly atrophic employment pool.
Pekarek will spend Thursday in Topeka at KASB’s “Aspiring Superintendents Workshop” where he and two other Kansas unified school district administrators will address what KASB officials say is a projected lack of school superintendents in the state.
KASB Associate Executive Director Doug Moeckel said throughout Kansas education there’s potential shortfall as the existing professionals grow older and moved into retirement.
“A few years ago, we anticipated a dire need for school leaders and school personnel,” he said. “We have experienced superintendents out there who are eventually going to want to retire.”
Thursday, Pekarek, as well as Pat Happer, USD 340 superintendent, and Sue King, USD 429 superintendent, will speak about the process of becoming a senior level administrator and the challenges they face in their day-to-day business.
“We’re trying to get some future school leaders so we thought it would be good to get someone who’s recently gone through the process of the search and placement,” Moeckel said of why KASB sought out Pekarek, who is in his first year as USD 257 superintendent after spending two years serving the same position at the Clifton-Clyde school district.
“(Pekarek) could share insights with people who may go down that same path,” he said.
Pekarek said being asked to speak at Thursday’s workshop took him by surprise.
“There are 287 other superintendents in the state and I know the other two asked to present,” he said. “They’re really sharp, so it’s a real honor.”
Pekarek said a lot of people who are principals or teachers have the proper schooling and licenses to be superintendents but “they just don’t want to take that step.”
“A lot of them are thrown off by … cuts in educational finance so I’ll talk about ways that you can plan ahead,” he said, pointing to his own push for aggressive grant writing.
Other potential superintendents don’t want to work in small, rural community in western Kansas – one of the areas in most need of fresh education leaders.
“People want to live in a town that has a Walmart. I understand that but don’t be afraid to find a small superintendency someplace to get your experience,” Pekarek said. “I will encourage them to get the experience.”
The “Aspiring Superintendents Workshop” is from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Topeka at the KASB office, 1420 SW Arrowhead Rd. Those wanting to attend should call ahead at 785-273-3600.
“There’s always a need for great leadership in education just like there is in any other field,” Moeckel said. “We’re trying to make sure we have quality candidates to lead schools that help kids.”
