USD 257 gets new superintendent

After two months of searching, USD 257 has found its new superintendent, Jack Koehn.
Koehn will be taking over for Brian Pekarek who turned in his resignation mid-January. Pekarek’s contract ends June 30 and Koehn will begin his two-year contract on July 1.
Koehn is currently principal at Canton-Galva High School, where he himself graduated in 1978. Koehn attended McPherson College where he played basketball and got his degree in history. 
Koehn began his career in Hoisington as a middle school social studies teacher. In 1984-85 Koehn returned to his hometown of Canton to take the position of head basketball coach.
“I’ve been in Canton-Galva ever since in a variety of positions,” he said.
Koehn jumped on the technology wagon in its infancy.
“I became the technology coordinator and that lasted about four years. Then I started getting interested in administration. I started to see the district as a whole in a new perspective,” Koehn said.
To broaden his career’s horizons Koehn went back to school at Emporia State University to get his master’s degree. He then took the position of principal. 
In 2007 yet another opportunity presented itself. The current superintendent at Canton-Galva suggested Koehn get his district level certification because he would be retiring soon and thought Koehn would make a good replacement.
“But he hasn’t retired yet. It’s not anyone’s fault,” Koehn said.
Koehn took his certification and began his hunt for a superintendent position. The move is not only to benefit his career but his family’s agenda as well.
He and his wife, Kathy, became first-time grandparents 14 months ago. Kylee, their oldest daughter, lives in Kansas City, so it was only fitting that when he and Kathy chose to move they would look to eastern Kansas.
They also have another daughter, Allison, who is in Melbourne, Australia, doing a study abroad program and a son, Taylor, who recently started at the University of Kansas.
Iola wasn’t a stranger to Koehn though. Koehn is a curriculum consultant for the Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI), with which Iola is involved.
“I am very familiar with the process Iola is going through,” he said. “I was very drawn to Iola.” 
The familiarity with Iola was not the only endearing factor for Koehn.
“I also liked that Iola had a community college,” he said, and its study arrangement with high school students.
The biggest take-away for Koehn was the Bowlus Fine Arts Center and its collaboration with the school district.
“It’s another feature of Iola that I think is unique. A feature I wasn’t quite prepared for,” he said. “I wasn’t aware Iola had such a fine arts center. That was really cool.”
Though the move will bring him closer to his family it will be taking him away from other family. He and Kathy will be leaving behind parents and siblings.
“Our folks are still in Canton-Galva, but other siblings are around too. They will be well taken care of I’m sure,” he said. 
Canton-Galva school district as a whole is a little smaller than Iola, however, Koehn doesn’t see that as a challenge.
“I have a good feel for the size of Iola and the teachers and the overall complexity of the district,” he said. The schools “function about the same, have the same process.”
From now until July 1 Koehn said he plans to begin building relationships with the district members, such as the board members and central office personnel.
“That will be my goal,” he said.
Koehn said he doesn’t have any plans in his back pocket for Iola, only that he wants to “get to know Iola and have Iola get to know me and my family.”