North KC district names retired Blue Springs leader Paul Kinder as interim superintendent
The North Kansas City School District filled its superintendent post — temporarily — with retired Blue Springs Superintendent Paul Kinder as several area school districts shuffle their top posts this year.
Kinder, who led Blue Springs for 14 years before retiring in 2014, will step in for Todd White. White is leaving after six years as superintendent to take an assistant superintendent post for the Blue Valley School District.
Blue Valley is also beginning a search for a superintendent after Tom Trigg announced earlier this spring that he is departing for the Highland Park Independent School District in the Dallas area. The assistant superintendent who White is succeeding — Al Hanna — was planning to retire. Instead, he’ll return as Blue Valley’s interim leader.
Kinder was succeeded in Blue Springs by Jim Finley, who had served as the district’s deputy superintendent.
“It is a bittersweet time at NKC Schools,” North Kansas City school board President Joe Jacobs said in a prepared statement. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Kinder to lead our district for the next year, but so very sorry to see Dr. White leave us.”
North Kansas City will begin its search this fall, hoping to be ready to name its next superintendent next spring.
The same search schedule is underway in Blue Valley and also with Kansas City Public Schools, which is searching for a replacement for Steve Green, who is leaving for DeKalb County School District in the Atlanta area. The Kansas City school district recently named its chief financial officer Al Tunis to serve as interim superintendent.
To reach Joe Robertson, call 816-234-4789 or send email to jrobertson@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 10:06 AM with the headline "North KC district names retired Blue Springs leader Paul Kinder as interim superintendent."