Dec. 14, 2016 ~ The Olathe Board of Education has welcomed a finalist for superintendent back to the district on Wednesday, Dec. 14 for a tour and final interview. John Allison, currently the Superintendent of Schools for the Wichita Public Schools, has been named the sole finalist for the Olathe Public Schools superintendent position. The board is expected to vote to finalize the superintendent choice at a special board meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19 in the Education Center, 14160 S. Black Bob Road in Olathe. The superintendent would officially start on July 1.
Allison has worked in public education for the past 29 years and has served as superintendent in the Wichita Public Schools since 2009. Prior to becoming superintendent for the Wichita Public Schools, Allison served for two years as superintendent of the Mt. Lebanon School District in Pennsylvania. His educational career also includes service as deputy superintendent of the Grapevine-Colleyville School District in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, associate superintendent for education services for the Shawnee Mission School District, and as a middle school and high school building administrator. He began his teaching career in Spring Hill as a high school social studies teacher and coach. His experience includes service in rural, urban, and suburban school districts.
Allison obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas, and his Masters of Science from Emporia State University. He has completed doctoral course work in Education Leadership at St. Louis University and Southwestern College.
Active in civic and community leadership during his career, Allison is a member of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He helped develop the Business Education Innovation Partnership between the district and the Chamber, allowing partners in the business community to evaluate different business areas of the district to find efficiencies and to share ideas about best practices. This initiative led to the formation of the Chamber's Business and Education Alliance, a critical effort to advance business and workforce issues in the region. He is also on the United Way of the Plains Board of Directors and is a board member of the Kansas/Missouri Superintendent's Forum.
John and his wife Ramie, who began her teaching career at Olathe's Countryside Elementary, have two children. Their son, Cade, attended Pleasant Ridge Elementary, is a University of Kansas graduate, and resides in Dallas. Their daughter, Cooper, is currently attending Kansas State University. The family is excited about the opportunity to possibly return to the Olathe community.
