KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Public Schools announced on Wednesday that they will enter negotiations with Mark Bedell as the district’s superintendent position.
Bedell is currently the assistant superintendent for high schools at Baltimore County Public Schools in Towson, Md. and has worked in education for 16 years. In addition he has received multiple awards including the Young Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award two years in a row; the Feeder Pattern Principal of the Year Award for the 2007-2008 school year; and the Outstanding Educator Award from Texas A&M University in 2009.
The search for a superintendent began in July 2015 and more than 70 individuals have applied for the position since its opening. Bedell was one of two finalists for the position.
“The KCPS School Board appreciates the thoughtful input we received throughout this process,” Board Chair Jon Hile said in a news release. “The Board, like our community, has set high expectations for quality leadership in KCPS. This process has yielded a leader with the skills and passion to ensure the district’s progress toward full accreditation and academic growth across all of our schools.”
The position has been open since the summer when Dr. R. Stephen Green left after just four years on the job to take over as superintendent of DeKalb County Schools in the Atlanta area.
Al Tunis has been serving as interim superintendent, but he’s not a finalist, as both of the candidates are from outside the school district.