After
18 years as an elected official, Shawnee County commissioner Shelly Buhler
said, she is “thrilled for the opportunity” to serve as Hayden High School’s
next president.
“It’s time for a new direction and to do
something different,” Buhler, 53, said Tuesday. “This was definitely a
calling.”
Hayden officials confirmed Buhler will be
the Catholic school’s first female president. She was recommended for the job
by the school’s board of trustees and officially appointed by Archbishop Joseph
Naumann, of the Kansas City, Kan., diocese. She will officially take over July
1 but will begin transitioning into the position beginning April 1. Current
president Matt Schambari will serve out the rest of the school year.
Buhler, who was elected as county
commissioner in 2007, said she will serve out the remainder of her term, which
ends in January. Her successor will be elected in November.
Buhler, a former mayor of Rossville, said
she decided toward the end of last year that she likely wouldn’t seek another
term representing the county’s District 1. She said she started thinking about
what she would do next, then was approached about the Hayden position.
“I prayed about it and decided to submit my
name,” Buhler said.
“We’re fortunate to have had many
high-quality candidates to consider,” Lawrence Martin, chairman of the Hayden
board of trustees, said in a statement. “Shelly rose to the top because of her
unique combination of experience, educational background and long history of
selfless service. She’s known as a collaborative leader who also knows how to
get things done.”
Buhler said she plans to build on
Schambari’s accomplishments but will also listen to students, parents and
community members “to build on the strong tradition of Hayden.”
