HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 313 Board of Education has announced the selection of Mrs. Cindy Couchman, as the new superintendent. Mrs. Couchman will take the reins on July 1, 2020, after the retirement of Mr. Mike Berblinger at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
Mrs. Cindy Couchman has broad educational experience, as a teacher and district administrator. She has been the assistant superintendent at Buhler Public Schools for the past six year and taught mathematics at Buhler High School for the 19 years prior.
Mrs. Couchman has a long list of accomplishments in her educational career. In 2009 she was the Kansas Teacher of the Year, received the Kansas Foundation in Excellence Award and was named a Kansas State University College of Education Alumni Fellow. She was also named a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching National Finalist in 2009. In 2012 she was named a Lowell Milken Center Fellow and in 2014 she was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
Board President Laura Meyer Dick says that Cindy Couchman emerged from a very thorough search process as the right candidate to lead the District. “Mrs. Couchman has displayed tremendous leadership as our assistant superintendent for the last 6 years. She is student-focused and takes pride in our mission of an exceptional educational experience for all. We look forward to her continued leadership as she assumes her new position as Superintendent on July 1, 2020.”
Laura Meyer Dick Board President, explained that community input, including the involvement of a committee of stakeholders was a key factor in the success of the superintendent search process. The committee included teachers and administrators, parents, and community members. “The input from the community as a whole was very helpful to our process.”
The Board selected three finalists, who were each interviewed by the Board.