The two finalists for Superintendent of Broken Arrow Public Schools, Dr. Diane Gross and Jarod Mendenhall visited the School District as part of the Board of Education’s superintendent selection process.

Gross, currently Assistant Superintendent of the Haysville, Kansas, Unified School District and Mendenhall, currently Assistant Superintendent of Union Public Schools, had event filled days in their respective visits to Broken Arrow. 

Both candidates met with Education Service Center staff, Broken Arrow City Manager Dave Wooden, Broken Arrow Mayor Mike Lester and Broken Arrow Area Chamber of Commerce President Mickey Thompson along with various Chamber members.

The Finalists also toured several BAPS schools and had lunch with Broken Arrow High School student leaders.

The candidates’ busy days in BA culminated with a public forum (Gross on Jan. 12 and Mendenhall on Jan. 14) in which both candidates answered questions from interested observers at Central on Main for over an hour.  The Finalists then met with the School Board in Special Board of Education meetings held at NSU BA.

Both candidates greatly enjoyed their day in Broken Arrow.

“Impressive!” exclaimed Dr. Gross. “Broken Arrow is a community that values education, cares about its youth, and is committed to continuous improvement that adds to the tradition of excellence already established within the Broken Arrow Public Schools. It is obvious that students, parents, teachers, principals, executive staff, the community leaders, and the board of education members value each other and realize the importance of working together for quality learning. The potential to become part of a team of ‘difference makers’ within a community that cares, continues to excite and energize me. The opportunities abound in Broken Arrow!”

“My visit to Broken Arrow was fantastic!” exclaimed Mendenhall. “I had the opportunity to speak to the different stakeholders including students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders.  The most refreshing conversations were with the students; they spoke to me regarding the traditions in Broken Arrow and how important it was to engage students in activities.  The questions at the community forum were extremely informative and thoughtful which helped me understand the community better.  I look forward to leading BA through the bond issue and developing a new culture of collaboration if I’m selected by the Board and would plan to begin the ‘100 Day Entry Plan’ as soon as I am settled in at BA which would set us on a path to the future.”

Patrons, parents, and staff who participated in the activities with the Superintendent Finalists were invited to share their opinions in surveys made available at the Public Forums and online on the BAPS website.  The Board of Education is expected to hold a special meeting soon to go over the results of the surveys.

Dr. June Ehinger of the Oklahoma State Schools Boards Association (the organization helping facilitate the district’s search for a new superintendent) said the Board continues to follow a timeline that calls for the new superintendent to be named in February.

Dr. Gross attended NSU in Tahlequah, where she earned her degree in Secondary Mathematics and accepted a math teaching position in Manhattan Kansas.  She continued her teaching career in Wichita North High School teaching math and coaching soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball. In 1998 she accepted the Principal position at the Haysville Alternative High School in Haysville where she served until being appointed to Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in 2001.  She has also served as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services in Haysville, until being appointed to Assistant superintendent for Assessment and Data Analysis in 2008, her current position.

Mendenhall has been in education since 1991 with more than 14 years of experience at Union Public Schools.  He began his career in the classroom as a history teacher and coached for six years at Union and Sapulpa Public Schools, then entered administration in Bartlesville as Assistant High School Principal.  In 1998, he moved to Union Public Schools and served as Assistant High School Principal and Intermediate High School Principal until he was appointed Executive Director for Curriculum Design and School Improvement in Broken Arrow where he served briefly.  In 2004 he returned to Union as Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, his current position.