Mitchell leaves superintendent post, begins new statewide position

Posted 6/29/17

“Over the course of 10 years, it didn’t matter what topic we were talking about, Kevin would keep us focused on what’s best for kids,” said Greg Borcher, chairman of the Park County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees.

Friday marks …

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Mitchell leaves superintendent post, begins new statewide position

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As superintendent of the Powell school district, Kevin Mitchell has made countless decisions, attended hundreds of meetings and kept a single focus: Doing what’s best for students.

“Over the course of 10 years, it didn’t matter what topic we were talking about, Kevin would keep us focused on what’s best for kids,” said Greg Borcher, chairman of the Park County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees.

Friday marks Mitchell’s last official day as superintendent in Powell. He will continue working for students locally and across the state in his new job as executive director of the Wyoming Association of School Administrators.

Mitchell started as superintendent in Powell in 2007. At the time, the new Powell High School was taking shape.

Construction continued in coming years as a new Southside Elementary School, Westside Elementary School and three phases of Powell Middle School were completed.

“All of the schools are just absolutely awesome,” Mitchell said. He noted that an accreditation team highlighted that Powell’s school facilities are designed for kids instead of adults.

“We’re very proud of that,” he said.

Over the past decade, the district did major upgrades to other buildings, including Parkside Elementary School, Clark Elementary School, the Shoshone Learning Center, the School Administration Building, the bus barn and the Support Services Building (part of the old PHS).

“The district looks different, it certainly does,” Mitchell said. “We’ve had great staff members working on those projects — I’m not taking credit for any of that, but it happened under my watch.”

Powell built its new schools at a time when Wyoming enjoyed budget surpluses instead of shortfalls.

“We’re extremely fortunate that the state had the money at that time to pay for our buildings,” Mitchell said, adding that Powell had the capacity and vision to be out in the forefront and get its facilities built.

Beyond buildings, Mitchell has seen other changes within the district.

“I think the climate has changed over the years,” he said, adding that the culture is student-centered and the climate is positive.

“The decisions that we make, the money that we spend, number one goes to our students, and then second, the support of our employees,” Mitchell said.

Over the past decade, new head principals started at every school except Powell Middle School, where Jason Sleep is the principal; new assistant principals also were hired at PHS and the middle school.

“Powell is known across the area for having one of the strongest educational leadership teams in the state of Wyoming,” Mitchell said.

He said the Powell district is in good hands.

“One of our other mantras is, ‘We’re going to get better every day.’ That attitude is still here,” he said.

Jay Curtis, who takes over as the Powell superintendent next week, believes in the same vision and will continue that, Mitchell said. Curtis has served as superintendent of Meeteetse Schools since 2010.

“I’m confident in his abilities, because I’ve seen him grow as a superintendent,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said his leadership style and beliefs have served him well in Powell for 10 years, “but it’s time for a new eye, it’s time for a new leadership style. It’s time for looking at that vision again in the district.”

Mitchell said a highlight of his time in Powell has been working with “tremendous” school board members who have a sincere interest in being involved and work together as a team.

“They have led me in a way that allows me to lead the district without any interference whatsoever,” he said. “Certainly we have an issue come up every now and then that we have to work through. On a day-to-day basis, I trust the board and they trust me.”

He said the vision starts at the top, and if the board is focused on students and staff, “that allows the rest of us to do that.”

Mitchell also said the district has managed its money well over the years.

“I’ve been fortunate that we’ve had funding,” Mitchell said. “In my tenure here, we’ve had certainly adequate funding to do what we needed to do.”

Part of Mitchell’s new job with Wyoming Association of School Administrators (WASA) will be to attend legislative committee meetings on education. He has been a voice for northwest Wyoming, and will now take on a statewide role, communicating legislative updates to superintendents across the state.

“That’s going to be key in the next year, because not every superintendent can go to those meetings,” Mitchell said.

Wyoming has lost some longtime superintendents recently, Mitchell said, and he’ll bring a historical perspective and years of experience to help other districts.

“My job is to support every school district in the state through their superintendent,” he said.

As Wyoming lawmakers grapple with K-12 funding shortfalls of roughly $380 million a year and debate how to deliver education, Mitchell encouraged the community to get involved. He said it’s important for residents to research the issues and understand what students’ needs are.

As the WASA executive director, one of his goals is to visit every school district once a year. Mitchell will be based in Powell. His wife, Jo, teaches music at Westside and is in her 19th year. The couple’s children, Tess and Pax, both graduated from PHS.

Mitchell said he appreciates his family’s support, saying Jo “has stood by me through thick and thin, and so have Tess and Pax.”

“It’s not easy being a superintendent’s child, and other superintendent’s children will tell you the same,” he said. “They’ve certainly supported their father.”

Last month, the Powell school board honored Mitchell, thanking him for his dedication and service.

Chairman Borcher recalled a meeting of Wyoming School Boards Association Board of Trustees this spring. A seasoned board member calmly interrupted the discussion and said, “Excuse me, I would like to use a quote from Kevin Mitchell and remind us why we’re here: Let’s focus on what’s best for kids.”

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