Broken Arrow School Board Narrows Superintendent Search To Two

Broken Arrow, OK -- The Broken Arrow Board of Education has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to two candidates.

The Finalists are Dr. Jarod Mendenhall, Assistant Superintendent of Union Public Schools and Dr. Diane Gross, Assistant Superintendent of Haysville USD, in Haysville, Kansas.

Dr. Mendenhall has been in education since 1991 with more than 14 years of experience at Union Public Schools. 

He began his career in the classroom as a history teacher and coached for six years at Union and Sapulpa Public Schools. Then, He entered administration in Bartlesville as Assistant High School Principal. 

In 1998, he moved to Union Public Schools and served as Assistant High School Principal and Intermediate High School Principal until he was appointed Executive Director for Curriculum Design and School Improvement in Broken Arrow where he served briefly. 

In 2004, he returned to Union as Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, his current position.

Dr. Gross attended NSU in Tahlequah where she earned her degree in Secondary Mathematics. She accepted a math teaching position in Manhattan Kansas. 

She continued her teaching career in Wichita North High School teaching math and coaching soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball.

In 1998, she accepted the Principal position at the Haysville Alternative High School in Haysville,KS where she served until being appointed to Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in 2001. 

She has also served as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services in Haysville, until being appointed to Assistant superintendent for Assessment and Data Analysis in 2008, her current position.

The school board hopes to name the new superintendent in February.