(De Soto, KS) _ Frank Harwood, Ed.D., superintendent of schools, publicly announced his retirement from USD 232 during the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 3, 2022. Harwood will complete the current school year, his 30th in public education, with his retirement effective June 30, 2023.
“I know I speak for every Board member who has had the privilege of working with Dr. Harwood when I say that he will be tremendously missed. Our district is fortunate to have Dr. Harwood serve as superintendent, and the Board appreciates the opportunities to work alongside him,” stated Ashley Spaulding, Board of Education president. “USD 232 has grown and improved in so many ways under his calm and consistent leadership the past six-plus years, and the Board looks forward to accomplishing more with Dr. Harwood as he continues to serve our school community over the next nine months.”
Finding Harwood’s replacement is a priority for the Board of Education. The Board will immediately issue a request for proposals from experienced executive search firms to help conduct a thorough search for the next superintendent of schools. More information regarding the search process will be released once an executive search firm has been selected.
“It has been my honor to be the superintendent of this wonderful school district,” said Frank Harwood. “Since our first interactions with this community, my wife, Jamie, and I have known this is a great place to live and work and are grateful to have made the decision to be here. I have greatly enjoyed my time in USD 232 and cannot imagine a better district to lead. I truly appreciate the opportunity I was given and know that more good things are in store for the district. I am humbled to have played a small part in what we have become.”
USD 232 has accomplished several notable achievements during Harwood’s seven years as superintendent. He provided leadership, resulting in a formal vision and mission for the Board of Education which drives an annual process to identify goals, objectives, and strategies to improve student achievement. The Pathways course was added to the middle school core classes to help students better understand their career aspirations and develop plans to achieve their goals. Harwood also instituted long-term planning to prepare the organization to respond to future needs. He provided leadership that resulted in the passage of a bond issue in 2018 covering more than 38 projects in the areas of safety and security, career and technical education, Early Childhood education, educational technology, school facility improvements, and land acquisition.
Harwood joined USD 232 in July 2016 from Bellevue Public Schools in Bellevue, Nebraska, where he served as superintendent for five years. Prior to Nebraska, Harwood worked as an administrator and teacher in Kansas for 18 years, with roles in Lawrence Public Schools, Perry-Lecompton, and Leavenworth.
