At its meeting on Tuesday, December 8, the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education announced that it has selected Dr. Cynthia R. Lane to serve as the next superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS).

Lane, who currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Business, will be the 12th superintendent to lead KCKPS since the schools in Wyandotte County were consolidated in 1886. She replaces Dr. Jill Ann Shackelford, who announced In August that she would retire in June 2010, after serving as superintendent for five years.

Lane is in her 22nd year with KCKPS. In that time, she has served in a number of roles, including a special education teacher, a principal, and director of the Wyandotte Comprehensive Special Education Cooperative, in addition to her present roles an Assistant Superintendent. In this position, she has had the responsibility of guiding the district’s on-going work to strengthen instruction, and has also helped the system navigate through the State of Kansas' current fiscal crisis.

Lane has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in behavior disorders from Pittsburg State University. She earned her doctorate in special education from the University of Kansas in 1999. Lane received the unanimous vote of the Board of Education. Board members praised her, referring to her dedication to the district and its students.

Board member George Breidenthal, Jr. noted, “I have been able to feel the way she cares about our children and our community. I don’t think there’s a better person we could have as the superintendent of schools. ”Board President Gloria Willis told Lane, “I am just so pleased at the way you have worked with us to do the very best job that we can do .. . We know the children are your passion, and we appreciate that . . .We expect to have you here for the next 20 years!”

Lane will be the second female superintendent in the district’s history, following Shackelford. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to follow Dr. Shackelford, ” Dr. Lane said. “She's an amazing and inspirational leader, and I have been fortunate to get the opportunity to work closely with her over the last five years, and to learn from her leadership. She has set a sterling example for what it means to put children first, and I look forward to following in her footsteps. I share her passion for our students and for this community, and I am excited about continuing our journey to excellence!”

Lane will begin her tenure as superintendent July 1, 2010.