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District Leadership

History of Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

District Leadership

The Superintendents of KCKPS

KCKPS has had a surprisingly small number of superintendents over its 150+ year history — making it a historically stable district, in terms of leadership.


Over 84 years, from 1902–1986, only three superintendents served the entire community: Matthew Edgar Pearson (1902–1932), Frank L. Schlagle (1932–1962), and Orvin L. Plucker (1962–1986).

 

History of KCKPS Superintendents

  • 1867: Henry Alden (Principal/Superintendent — only 2 schools in the district)
  • 1869: O. C. Palmer
  • 1874: Professor M. Waters
  • 1886-1890: John W. Ferguson
  • 1890-1893: Arvin S. Olin
  • 1893-1898: Louis Larkin Latney Hanks
  • 1898-1902: Lloyd E. Wolfe
  • 1902-1932: Mathew E. Pearson
  • 1932-1962: Frank L. Schlagle
  • 1962-1986: Orvin L. Plucker
  • 1986-1992: Dr. David L. Lusk
  • 1992-1993: Dr. Jerry P. Franklin (Acting Superintendent)
  • 1993-1997: Dr. Jim B. Hensley
  • 1997-1998: Dr. Jerry P. Franklin (Acting Superintendent)
  • 1998-2005: Dr. Ray L. Daniels
  • 2005-2010: Dr. Jill Shackelford
  • 2010-2018: Dr. Cynthia Lane
  • 2018: Dr. Julia Ford (interim), Dr. Jayson Strickland (interim)
  • 2018-2020: Dr. Charles Foust
  • 2020-2021: Dr. Alicia Miguel (interim)
  • 2021-present: Dr. Anna Stubblefield

The First Among Superintendents

  • First Superintendent of Schools: Henry Alden — 1867
  • First Female Superintendent: Dr. Jill Shackelford — 2005–2010 
  • First African American Male Superintendent:
    • Dr. Jayson Strickland (Interim) — 2018–2018
    • Dr. Charles Foust — 2018–2020
  • First Hispanic Female Superintendent: Dr. Alicia Miguel (Interim) — 2020-2021
  • First African American Female Superintendent: Dr. Anna Stubblefield — 2021 to present

The First Among the Board

  • First African American Board Member: Gerald Hall
  • First Hispanic Board Member:
    • Ramon Murguia (Appointed)
    • Randy Lopez (Elected)
  • First Female Hispanic Board Member: Irene Caudillo (Appointed)

The First Board of Education

  • J. M. Squires, President
  • W. J. Brouse, Vice-President
  • S. W. Day
  • N. P. Northrup
  • J. F. Nettleton (resigned — replaced by W. T. Mead)
  • E. P. Godwell. 

The 2026 Board of Education

  • Randy Lopez, President
  • Wanda Brownlee Paige, Vice-President
  • Yolanda Clark
  • Reverend Robert L. Milan, Jr.
  • Pamela Penn-Hicks
  • Joycelyn Strickland-Egans
  • Dr. Valdenia Winn