Jay Wood’s tenure as Kingfisher High School principal won’t be lasting very long. For good reason.

On Wednesday night, Wood was approved as the new superintendent and high school principal at Dover.

He was approved by a 3-0 vote of board members Larry Harviston, Nathan Guinn and Tom O’Hern.

Members Shawn Walker and Matilda Caldwell were absent from the meeting.

Wood will begin July 1, 2022. “We had a lot of quality candidates. After many interviews and a ton of discussion, the board agreed Jay Wood would be a perfect fit for the district,” said Harviston, who serves as the board’s president.

Wood will replace the roles currently served by Max Thomas and Kyle Karns.

Thomas, the superintendent at Dover as well as Chisholm Trail Technology Center, and Karns, the high school principal, are both set to retire at the end of this school year.

Thomas hired Karns to serve as principal prior to the 2018-19 school year, not long after he was hired as well.

“Dover School is in the best position it has been in for some time, mainly due to Max Thomas’ knowledge and leadership,” Harviston said.

“Jay will have big shoes to fill but we’re certain he’s up for the task.”

Wood is a 1990 KHS graduate who returned to his alma mater as girls basketball coach in 2015.

He coached four years before becoming the athletic director and assistant high school principal for two years.

He was promoted to principal last summer after Todd Overstreet accepted the same position at Watonga.

“While I’m sad to see him go, it is a testament to his reputation and hard work,” said first-year Kingfisher Superintendent Dr. Daniel Craig. “He’ll be a fantastic superintendent for Dover and they’ll be blessed to have him.”

Leaving KHS, Wood said, wasn’t a decision taken lightly.

“I have enjoyed my time here. Of course being from here and a former graduate it was a tough decision. My wife (Libby) works here and my son (Sam) was going to be in my building next year,” Wood said.

Wood has only had a few months to put his mark on KHS.

“I was really excited about the direction Kingfisher High School was headed and looking forward to improving and raising the bar here,” he said.

“All of my teachers have been supportive and on board with the changes, so that added to the difficulty of the decision.

“And I have a great office and support team, so that also made it really tough to leave.”

Wood added he was “thankful” to work with the likes of former KPS Superintendent Jason Sternberger, Craig, Overstreet and current KHS Assistant Principal Erin Michael.

“Those guys gave me the opportunity to grow and learn and help prepare me for this next endeavor,” he said.

“I will always be grateful and cherish my time that I spent here and the relationships I have built here.”

However, becoming a superintendent has been Wood’s goal.

Dover has presented that chance.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to working with the board, the teachers and the community on continuing to improve and add to the success they have had in the last few years.”

Craig said the district will soon post the opening, but will also take an opportunity to review the structure at KHS.

“We’ll get started on a plan for secondary administration staffing, role and duties,” he said.

“And we can use this as an opportunity to make those roles and duties more clearly defined and efficient.”