Starting the BYOD program, proposing a bond issue and working on LGBT issues were just a few of the many accomplishments Rick Doll made in his seven years as USD 497 superintendent.

When Doll announced his retirement in November, the school board began a months-long search for his replacement. The district announced its choice, Kyle Hayden, as the new superintendent on March 8. Hayden is currently the assistant superintendent.

Doll is leaving USD 497 to lead the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute at Kansas State University next year.

“It has been a sincere pleasure to work with Dr. Doll over the past seven years,” school board president Valerie Sanburn said. “I don’t think it’s ever an ideal time to replace an effective leader, but I understand that Dr. Doll has a new opportunity that would have been hard to pass up.”

Choosing a new superintendent was something that affected the entire district and Lawrence community, so the district worked to include students and families in the decision process, hosting sessions on Jan. 13 and 14 to get public input.

“I felt it was our duty as student council executive representatives to go and represent LHS in the best way possible,” senior Elliott Abromeit, who attended the meeting, said.

There are many qualities a superintendent should have, and the district asked for input on what is most important to look for.

“They asked us about what kind of qualities we’d like and what we see in the district and how we would like things to change in it,” Abromeit said.

During Doll’s time in the district, USD 497 implemented blended learning and major renovations to LHS, as well as other schools in the district. He has received approval from educators in the district as well as the community.

“Generally, he’s been pretty good for teachers and kids,” debate coach and member of the teachers’ board of negotiators Jeff Plinsky said. “Honestly, I would be just as happy if he stayed instead of retiring.”

Plinsky said that change was definitely something Doll succeeded at, as he oversaw things like the moving freshman to the high school level.

“The biggest change I saw was the willingness of the administration to deal honestly with teachers,” Plinsky said. “Dr. Doll has really changed the culture for the better in that area. He has also forced us to confront race as educators. That is a scary thing for people my age, but we are making real strides in closing the achievement gap as a result of the initiatives he has championed.”

Doll said his desire to become a superintendent laid in his desire to have a positive impact on as many students as possible.

“Being the head of a school district provides an opportunity to impact personnel, curriculum, facilities, and students,” he said. “I hope to leave the impression that every student is important and that every educator can have a profound impact on students’ lives.”

Even with Doll’s departure, the work he did will continue to impact the district, and his efforts will be furthered.

“Being the superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools has been the most challenging and the most rewarding [time] of my career,” Doll said. “I believe that the actions that I, and the entire school district, have taken around equity issues will have a prominent effect on the district even after I leave. Our equity work is embedded in schools, the district as a whole, and with the school board. I look forward to watching the district grow in their equity work in my absence.”