GPS promotes Walters to Asst. Superintendent; Hancock named Executive Director

In a special meeting Monday evening, Guthrie Public Schools filled the empty administrative positions following the resignation of Doug Ogle.

Executive Director Carmen Walters was promoted to Assistant Superintendent. Walters, a 26-year educator, has served the district for eleven years as the executive director of Federal Programs and Elementary Education.

“Ms. Walters has been a loyal Bluejay for the past eleven years and has grown our team by mentoring many of our building leaders. With the new faces in leadership of the district at both the building and district level, this is an exciting time for GPS,” Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson said in a statement.

Ogle, who will be the next Superintendent for Perkins-Tryon Public Schools, previously served as the assistant superintendent and an Executive Director of Personnel and Secondary Education.

Upon the recommendation of Simpson, the board appointed John Hancock to take over Ogle’s responsibilities.

For the past five years, Hancock has been the high school principal at Washington Public Schools.

Previously, he served for six years as an assistant principal at both the junior high and high school levels for the Mid-Del Public Schools.

Hancock, a 22-year veteran educator, has also taught in Newcastle, Oologah, and Putnam City as well as a three-year stint in Anderson County, Kansas.

“Given the late timing, we were fortunate to have high-quality candidates for the executive director position,” Simpson said.

“Mr. Hancock was impressive with the work he has done around school improvement at Washington, and we are excited for him to be a part of our team.”