Experience was a selling point on two of Kingfisher Public Schools’ major hires this week.

The Kingfisher Board of Education at its May regular meeting on Monday voted to hire Stuart Purintun as the new junior high principal and David Glover as the districtwide athletics and operations director.

The moves were made on the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Daniel Craig in front of more than 80 onlookers inside the Kingfisher High School cafeteria.

The hiring decisions came after a 37-minute executive session and were a part of several personnel moves that included rehiring certified staff and administrators, personnel on temporary contracts and summer help.

They were approved with a 4-0 vote of the board as members Dana Golbek, Carly Franks, Jim Perdue and Charles Walker went with Craig’s recommendations.

Board member Terry Payne abstained from voting on personnel matters as well as taking part in the executive session (see related story).

Glover is currently in his ninth year as an assistant director at the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association as he oversees basketball (Class B-4A), cross country, golf and tennis among other duties.

A 2021 inductee into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame after a stellar career coaching basketball, Glover has also served as superintendent at Newkirk, Bethel and Okarche public schools prior to joining the OSSAA staff.

“On top of being a superintendent at three schools, what got me on David was his knowledge from being at the OSSAA for nine years,” Craig said. “He knows from looking at a lot of different districts, the way they can be organized and run. That can benefit us here.”

Glover and his wife, Cyndy, have lived in Kingfisher for several years, which is one of what he said was several reasons the job appealed to him.

“It’s the opportunity to be part of a great school system in every area and try to help continue the successes of both the athletic department and other aspects of the school associated with the position,” Glover said. “The job also affords me the opportunity to be more involved in the community where I live.”

Glover, like Purintun, officially takes over July 1, but said he’s ready to get to work.

“I am extremely excited and ready to go. I am pumped to work with the coaches and student-athletes to continue setting the bar for other schools to try to achieve while also working with maintenance staff, bus drivers, as well as teachers,” he said.

“Being a part of this team would be exciting for anyone with the opportunity. I hope I can bring value to a school system that is highly regarded statewide.”

Purintun is currently in his third year in his second stint with KPS. He currently teaches special education math at the middle school and is also the co-offensive coordinator on the football staff.

He was previously at KPS from 2005-15. His duties then included stints as a principal at Heritage Elementary and assistant high school principal.

Purintun then spent four years at his alma mater, Weatherford, and was a principal and athletic director there as well.

“He’s got that administration experience both here and at Weatherford,” said Craig. “He’s got experience teaching at the secondary level and experience in special education.

“Plus I think his personality and demeanor are a great fit for those kids in that building.”

Purintun fills the void left by Keith Campbell, a longtime KPS administrator who last month accepted the position as superintendent at Balko.

“I’m excited for this new opportunity,” Purintun said. “I really look forward to getting to work with the teachers and students at the junior high.”

Campbell’s resignation, as well as that of his wife, Susan, a teacher at the junior high, were accepted during Monday’s meeting.

Resignations were also accepted from Keirstin Bebermeyer, a high school science teacher; Madison Schaefer, a middle school special education ELA teacher; Julie Jackson, sixth grade math teacher at KMS; Jacob Farrell, Gilmour Elementary paraprofessional; and Karli Karrenbrock, cashier and teacher’s assistant at KMS.

Other new hires on Monday included Kinsey Mueggenborg as the districtwide speech-language pathologist; Melissa Hardison as the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at KHS; Katy Custer as a teacher at KMS; Morgan Shuman and Jordan Waltman as Heritage teachers; Maria Jimenez as a Gilmour teacher; and Maria De La Torre as a high school custodian.