This 2015-16 school year is my 22nd year in public education. My first four years were spent as a 3rd grade teacher and high school football and basketball coach at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They were four amazing years that I wouldn't trade for anything. I still think about the students I taught and coached and so many of the fun things we worked on together. Fort Leavenworth was an awesome place to teach and coach. We had all of the resources and support you could ever want or need. I was fortunate to teach and coach there.
In June of 1998, I left "The Fort" to begin my career in school administration. I was a 25-year old kid that was charged with leading Bartlett Grade School, a K-8 school in southeast Kansas of about 160 students. It was a wonderful place to begin my leadership career. Though I was only there for the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 school years, I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do as a school leader. We lived in Parsons, KS and that was a little too far from Omaha than my wife wanted so in June 2000, we left for West Point, Nebraska to be closer to my wife's family in Omaha.
We spent three great years in West Point as K-6 principal. We were there on September 11, 2001, which I will never forget. We made lots of friends that we still stay in touch with today. It was a tough decision to leave West Point but I wanted to become a superintendent and that bug bit me really hard in the winter of 2003. That January, we received offers to become the next superintendent at Shelby and Kenesaw but my wife didn't want to accept either position. My attention then turned to an assistant superintendent position in Ralston. I had always wanted to be in "the metro" and see what it was like to work there. We made it to the final two but I was not offered the position. I was devastated for a few days but was then re-charged and ready to continue our important work at West Point Elementary.
That March, I received a phone call that Franklin, NE was looking for a superintendent. I wasn't excited about going back through the process of applying, etc. Wilber-Clatonia also opened up. After a few days, I was talked into applying for both. In early April, I interviewed at Wilber-Clatonia on a Wednesday and Franklin on a Thursday. We were fortunate to get the job offer from Franklin that Thursday night and it was a sleepless night for Liesl and I trying to decide what to do.
That Friday, we accepted the position and before I knew it, I was a 30-year old kid superintendent that really had no idea what I was supposed to do! We served in Franklin from 2003-2009 as superintendent but also spent some time as a high school principal, basketball coach, and cheer sponsor. It was a great ride. We have many fond memories of our time as a Franklin Flyer. We met lots of outstanding people and I was fortunate enough to work with some great educators and students as well. I still miss the Franklin Country Club, Rightway Grocery, and the volunteer run theater where Jeb, Bo, and I would go every Sunday with a $10 bill and come home with change!
In the fall of 2008, things got crazy with Class B superintendent openings. McCook, Waverly, York, and others opened up and Liesl and I began to think about taking the "next step." We applied at Waverly and York with the York deadline and timeline ending before Waverly interviewed. We were lucky enough to get the York job offer on a Friday night in mid-January and we've never looked back.
We came to York in June 2009 with Taylor heading into 11th grade, Micah into 9th, Jeb into 3rd, and Bo into 1st. The first year here was a real blur. There was lots and lots to do and many people to connect with. YPS offered us numerous challenges and plenty of rewards as well. We've made connections with so many wonderful people in/around York. This is a great place. York offers plenty of challenges but it also provides the resources and support to overcome those challenges.
It's funny to sit back and look back "through the years." A 'zig' instead of a 'zag' here or there and things would've turned out way different. Timing is everything. Circumstances are unique. Fate is inevitable.
I've loved every stop along the way of this educational journey. My time as a MacArthur Elementary Eagle and Patton Tiger at "The Fort" was outstanding. I have many fond memories of being a Bartlett Brave and a West Point Cub Cadet as well. Being a Franklin Flyer taught me how important community involvement is for school leaders. I cherish being a York Duke and love that "Duke Pride" that runs through my veins.
It's been a great ride so far. I hope the remaining 17 years I have are just as rewarding!
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