Lomega’s search for a new superintendent took the board of education all the way to….down the hall.

Board members last Monday voted unanimously to hire Cory Wilson as the district’s next leader.

He’ll succeed Steve Shiever, who is in his sixth year at Lomega, but announced last month that he’d accepted the same position at Pond Creek-Hunter.

“I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity to continue to serve in this district,” said Wilson, who is wrapping up his fourth year as Lomega’s high school principal.

His work during that time, said board President Julie Myers, did a lot to sway the board in Wilson’s direction.

“We have had a front-row seat in viewing his leadership over the past four years,” Myers said. “He has successfully built rapport with students, teachers and parents.”

Myers said the board received “an excellent pool of applicants.”

After completing interviews earlier last week, the job was offered to Wilson at the board’s April regular meeting.

Wilson is a native of Fort Cobb-Broxton High School who began his teaching and coaching career in 1999 at Leedey High School.

He led the Lady Bison girls basketball team to the Class B state title game in his first year.

Wilson left Leedey in 2001 to succeed Cherie Myers as the Kingfisher High School girls’ coach. His 2004 Lady Jackets were Class 4A state semifinalists.

He left education after the 2004 school year to work in the family insurance business with his wife, Lori.

“When I left teaching, I missed being around my kids during the day,” said Wilson, whose three children - Jordan, Avery and Adysen - are now adults.

“I also missed the teachers and interacting with the other students.”

He returned to Leedey to coach basketball and softball in 2009. He also coached softball at Hammon and Fort Cobb-Broxton before making the move to Lomega.

Adysen Wilson graduated from Lomega and helped lead the Lady Raiders to state championships in 2020 and 2021. She recently transferred from Southwestern Oklahoma State University to Cameron University to continue her basketball career.

Lori also works at Lomega as she serves in the district’s STEM, video production and technology departments.

The combination of the two has been an excellent fit at Lomega, said Myers.

“Cory and Lori have fully immersed themselves in the Lomega community and we are excited about the continued success of our district with Mr. Wilson at the helm,” Myers said.

Under Shiever, and with Wilson by his side for much of his tenure, Lomega has made numerous facilities upgrades including a brandnew high school and elementary gym remodel.

The district is currently adding on to its FFA facility, has purchased an ag farm and is making major improvements to its baseball field.

In the classroom, Lomega received all A’s on the latest School Report Card and continues to have among the best ACT average scores in the state.

“I feel good about how the school is trending and the direction we are headed,” Wilson said.

“We have a tremendous group of teachers who work extremely hard at their job and are passionate about this school and this community and I look forward to being a part of the continued success of LPS.”