Hickman Mills names three finalists for superintendent

The three finalists for Hickman Mills School District Superintendent, left to right, James Henderson, superintendent of Holmes County Consolidated School District in Mississippi; Yaw Obeng, superintendent of the Burlington School District in Vermont; and Darrin Slade, assistant superintendent for school leadership for Kansas City Public Schools.

The Hickman Mills school board announced its three finalists for superintendent, naming two out-of-state superintendents and an assistant superintendent in Kansas City.

The finalists are:

James Henderson, superintendent of Holmes County Consolidated School District in Mississippi.

Yaw Obeng, superintendent of the Burlington School District in Vermont.

Darrin Slade, assistant superintendent for school leadership for Kansas City Public Schools.

The resumes and video interviews of each finalist can be viewed on the district’s website at https://www.hickmanmills.org/Page/10897.

Fifty-four candidates from 21 states applied for the post, the school board previously announced. The board is seeking a successor to Yolanda Cargile, who is leaving Hickman Mills to become the superintendent of neighboring Center School District.

Carl Skinner, Hickman Mills’ deputy superintendent of student services, is serving as interim superintendent.

The consulting firm Ray and Associates is guiding the superintendent search. The firm conducted a community survey earlier this spring to set priorities that informed the selection process as the firm performed background checks and conducted interviews to present 10 candidates to the board.

The board reviewed the materials and video answers to questions from the firm to narrow the field to six.