Congratulations to Dr. Mike Argabright, who was named the 2023 Kansas Superintendent of the Year earlier this month by the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association (KSSA). 

Argabright is the superintendent of Southern Lyon County USD 252 and has served in that role for 16 years. 

Since the 2015-2016 school year, Argabright has helped 260 veterans travel to Washington, D.C., through the Honor Flight. He also has successfully led more than 106 projects/grants with outside funding that exceeds $5.5 million, according to KSSA. 

Candidates for the Superintendent of the Year title are assessed according to their professionalism, communication, community involvement and leadership while meeting the local community’s needs, as well as their students. 

As Kansas Superintendent of the Year, Argabright now will be considered for the AASA National Superintendent of the Year program. 

Argabright received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and his doctorate in educational leadership from Wichita State University. 

Argabright began his career as an administrator in 1993 at Eureka High School, where he served as athletic director, assistant principal and principal. 

In addition to his role as superintendent, Argabright has served as campaign chair for the United Way of the Flint Hills and chair of the board of trustees at Newman Regional Hospital. He also has chaired the KSDE Council of Superintendents and served as a board member for the United School Administrators of Kansas and president of KSSA. 

KSSA, in cooperation with the Ogden Financial Group, will host a celebration honoring Argabright in January 2023. They also will provide a $2,000 scholarship to a Kansas high school senior selected by Argabright. 

Southern Lyon County covers 295 square miles and includes the communities of Neosho Rapids, Hartford and Olpe. USD 252 is the only school district in Kansas to earn recognition in all eight areas of KSDE’s Kansans Can Star Recognition Awards program in 2021 and 2022.