The Kingfisher Board of Education will soon have a vacant seat.

Terry Payne confirmed to the Times & Free Press that he will be tendering his resignation from the board this week.

Payne and his wife, Tonya, are selling their Kingfisher home and moving to the Oklahoma City area.

The longtime pastors at Life-Way Church, one they helped establish, announced late last year they would be stepping down from their roles in the church.

Terry Payne said he’s taken a position at Destiny Christian Center in Oklahoma City and Tonya one at No Boundaries International, a faith-based ministry also in the metro area.

By law, school board members must live within the school district boundaries.

Payne was elected to the board in April 2021 and was sworn in later that month.

He first came to Kingfisher in 2000 as part of the KPS administrative team.

Payne was the Gilmour Elementary principal from 20002010 and then transitioned to assistant superintendent until 2012.

In 2011, the Paynes were part of the group that started LifeWay and he eventually went into ministry full-time.

“It has been an amazing journey over the last 24 years,” Payne said in his resignation letter. “It has truly been an honor to serve in the Kingfisher school system as a principal, assistant superintendent and school board member.”

Payne also detailed his dif- ferent experiences as principal, assistant superintendent and school board member.

“My goal has always been to make decisions that are in the best interest of the students,” Payne said.

He also relayed his belief that the “school is moving in the right direction with a renewed focus on academics and fostering a loving and caring environment both inside and outside the classroom.”

“The district has some truly amazing classroom teachers, administrators and students,” Payne said. “I look forward to hearing about their many future accomplishments.”

With four board members still seated, there is still a proper number for a quorum for the board to meet.

However, the remaining board members will be tasked with appointing a new member to fulfill the remainder of Payne’s term, which ends in April of next year.

The board will have 60 days to appoint that new member once the seat has been declared vacant.

If board members cannot agree on an appointee, the board can then call for a special election to fill the seat.