A new associate superintendent of human resources and a new chief operations officer have been hired at the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.
According to an announcement from the district, Samrie Devin will be the new associate superintendent of human resources, starting March 14. Steve Lilly, currently the superintendent of the McLouth Public Schools, will be the new chief operations officer, started in July for the 2022-2023 school year.
Devin currently is the executive director of human resources for Lawrence Public Schools, and also has experience as a teacher and principal. She will oversee all human resources systems.
According to a spokesman, in her current role, Devin created efficiencies in staffing, designed and engaged an onboarding process for all employee groups, organized highly attended recruitment fairs and facilitated problem-solving work groups to meet district goals.
“I am extremely honored, humbled, and excited to have been selected to serve the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools community as associate superintendent of human resources. I look forward to meeting the KCKPS community, emphasizing retention and recruitment, and providing exemplary customer service while focusing on student success,” Devin said in a statement.
She holds a Master of Science degree in educational leadership from Kansas State University, a Master of Arts in elementary education from MidAmerica Nazarene University, and a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education.
In her current role, she created efficiencies in staffing, designed and engaged an onboarding process for all employee groups, organized highly attended recruitment fairs, and facilitated problem-solving work groups to meet district goals.
“I am extremely honored, humbled, and excited to have been selected to serve the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools community as Associate Superintendent of Human Resources. I look forward to meeting the KCKPS community, emphasizing retention and recruitment, and providing exemplary customer service while focusing on student success,” said Devin.
She holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Kansas State University, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from MidAmerica Nazarene University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.
Lilly, the superintendent for the McLouth school district, has served for the past eight years. Prior to his role as superintendent, he gained valuable experience as a principal, assistant principal, teacher and coach. In addition, he worked in the KCKPS district previously.
According to a spokesman, Lilly brings a passion for continuous learning and shared that many of his fondest professional memories have taken place in KCKPS.
“I am excited and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to be a part of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools system. I am thrilled to get back to the district where both my father and myself were fortunate enough to start our educational careers, it certainly feels like I am coming home. I am looking forward to reaching out to staff and community members,” Lilly said in a statement.
He holds certifications in district level leadership from Wichita State University, building level leadership from Newman University, a Master of Science from Pittsburgh University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University.
“I am pleased to have Samrie Devin and Steve Lilly join our executive team. Their combined experience and leadership will be a valuable asset to operations and creating a culture that improves employee engagement and productivity, which supports our overall goal towards student achievement,” Dr. Anna Stubblefield, superintendent, said in the news release.
- Information from Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools