Less than a month from the start of the 2025-26 school year sees Kingfisher Public Schools searching for a new principal.

The board of education on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Michelle Jones during a special meeting.

Jones has been principal at Kingfisher Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6) for the last year and also served as curriculum and professional development director for the district.

She is taking a position as high school curriculum director for Yukon Public Schools.

“We’re sad to see Ms. Jones leave us,” Superintendent Andy Evans told the KT&FP. “She has been trying to get into Yukon for a long time. It’s where she lives and where her children go to school as well.

“She did a great job for us and helped us during a very difficult time. We wish her well.”

A resignation letter was included in the board of education’s packet of materials for the meeting.

“This decision was not made lightly as my time with Kingfisher Public Schools has been both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful,” Jones wrote in her resignation letter.

“I am grateful for the opportunities to grow, contribute and be a part of a building with such amazing staff and students. I have learned a great deal during the past year and have truly grown as an educator.”

The board accepted her resignation and moved to open the position in one move. Voting unanimously were board members Mike Copeland, Dana Golbek, Charles Walker and Bill Reitz. Brad Wittrock was unable to attend the meeting.

Evans said the district has some options in filling Jones’ position as principal.

“We met with the KUE teachers Tuesday and we have a committee that will be involved in the interview process,” he said.

“We do have internal candidates for the position and we have had some very good applicants from outside the district.”

Evans said he met with all current KPS personnel who have principal certification and may be interested in the position on Wednesday.

“We want to fill this as soon as possible and as well as we can,” Evans said.

Evans also said budgeting would play a role in the process. Since being hired initially as the interim superintendent last October - and then later having that interim tag removed - Evans has worked to pare down payroll among other parts of the district’s budget.

“As of today, we have been fortunate enough to maintain our fiscal discipline and stay slightly below our teacher numbers from February,” he said.

Not counting Jones’ salary, the district is currently paying $55,000 less in salaries with its new hires than it was with those who have exited the district.

“If we did move some things around internally, we could absorb a second salary,” he said.

However, Evans said, budget won’t be the only factor in making a hire.

“We will look at the best fit and what our buildings need,” Evans added.

He noted that Jones’ roles as curriculum and professional development director would be filled within the district and already had assigned one of them.

Haley Mitchel will take on the role as professional development director.

Mitchel, who taught seventh grade English in the junior high last year, was reassigned as the instructional coach for the district’s new Rise to Read program in May.

Resignations were also accepted from Lani Epsy and Cynthia Knapski. Epsy was a paraprofessional at Heritage Elementary and Knapski at Gilmour.

The board voted to hire Sara Delatorre Conrady as a secretary and cashier at Kingfisher Junior High.