The Park Hill School District continues to make headlines, in this instance with the unexpected announcement of the resignation of its superintendent.
Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Cowherd announced last week that she asked the district’s board of education not to extend her contract, which was set to expire at the end of this school year on June 30.
“I absolutely love this school district – the students, staff, families and community – and I want nothing but the best for Park Hill, now and in the future,” Cowherd said. “I am proud of the work that we have accomplished together. Updating and building new facilities for our students and staff, redistricting, school start times, believing in our vision that high school could look different without sacrificing high expectations and academic integrity, working toward our goal that every student in the district has access and opportunities and feels safe and welcome in our schools, providing recognition to our staff for their amazing work, and always putting the needs of our students first. We have remained resilient during difficult times and continued to work together as we untangle the impacts and unknowns of this pandemic.”
In a statement released by the district on Tuesday, Oct. 19, Cowherd said she does not know what her next steps will be, but she is looking forward to new opportunities with the flexibility to spend more time with her family and friends.
Board of education president Janice Bolin said the board is sorry to see Dr. Cowherd go.
“We appreciate Dr. Cowherd’s leadership and her commitment to our Park Hill community,” Bolin said. “She will be dearly missed, and she will be a hard act to follow.”
Bolin said the board plans to conduct a national search for Park Hill’s next superintendent, informed by extensive input from students, staff, families and community.
Cowherd, formerly the assistant superintendent in charge of school improvement, handled strategic planning, principal supervision and leadership development. She had worked in the district for 11 years before her promotion to the top spot, previously serving as a building administrator.
Before entering school administration, she was an instrumental music teacher in southwest Missouri and at the Shawnee Mission (Kan.) School District.
Cowherd served as interim superintendent for eight months in 2015 after the surprise resignation of former superintendent Dr. Scott Springston, who cited health-related matters.
She was selected by unanimous vote in December 2015 after a national search, which included feedback from more than 600 students, parents, staff and community members. At that time, she was offered a six-year contract, which will expire next summer.