Kansas City educator hired as new superintendent in New Hampshire — then, um, not

Stephen Linkous, chief of workers within the Kansas Metropolis, Kansas Public Colleges, was all prepared to go to Nashua, New Hampshire, to steer the 11,000-student college district within the Granite State.

The district had been looking for a superintendent for a yr. Linkous nailed the interviews, beating out 14 different candidates and two different finalists.

In February, he was supplied and accepted the job, scheduled to start out in July.

“Nashua deserves a superb chief, which is precisely what I imagine now we have,” Jennifer Bishop, president of the Nashua Board of Training, informed native media on the time.

However somebody concerned within the search apparently didn’t do their homework.

This week, the district rescinded its provide, saying that Linkous’ certification to be a superintendent in Kansas was not transferable to New Hampshire.

A consulting agency, BWP & Associates of Libertyville, Unwell., had been employed to conduct the search and to search out candidates from across the nation.

“The search advisor assumed there may be reciprocity between Kansas and New Hampshire,” Bishop mentioned in a letter to the general public. “That assumption proved to be incorrect and Mr. Linkous is unable to be licensed in New Hampshire. Sadly, Mr. Linkous shall be unable to function our new superintendent.”

Linkous, in an e mail to The Star, thanked the Nashua district and group for choosing him.

“It was a pleasure attending to know the board, administration, and residents throughout my visits to the gorgeous metropolis,” he wrote. “I want the Nashua Public Colleges and group the very best throughout their seek for their subsequent superintendent.”

In accordance with his LinkedIn web page, Linkous obtained a bachelor’s diploma in historical past from Park College in 1995, a grasp’s in academic management from the College of Denver in 2005 and his superintendent’s license in 2021 via Wichita State College.

Earlier than coming to Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, in July 2019, Linkous was an assistant superintendent within the Roosevelt College District in Phoenix.