With more than 60 superintendent changes across the state, three top leaders from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) want to make sure new superintendents and those who are new to a district know they are supported.

There are about 35 people who are new to the role of superintendent, and the remaining have moved to a new district.

Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson and Deputy Commissioners Dr. Craig Neuenswander and Dr. Ben Proctor are spending 15 minutes answering questions and getting to know those in new positions.

“There are so many new superintendents and so much change,” Watson said. “We wanted to introduce ourselves and let them know they can reach out to us at any time.”

The Zoom meetings began Tuesday, Aug. 30. The three met with 25 superintendents the first day. The meetings continued Wednesday afternoon with nine additional Zooms.

Topics for questions ranged from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to budgets and local boards of education, Watson said.

Calls will continue throughout September until Watson, Neuenswander and Proctor have met with all new superintendents and those new to a district. They should wrap up the calls by Sept. 20.

“We want everyone to know that we’re here to help them,” Watson said.