During a special board meeting, the Ninnekah Board of Education approved the hire of Dr. Ashley Davis, a longtime educator and administrator, as the district’s next superintendent. Dr. Davis, who currently serves as the superintendent for Drumright Public Schools, will begin her duties at the end of the school year, taking over for Interim Superintendent Robyn Morse.
 “We really appreciate everything Robyn has done for our district,” Ninnekah Board President Dustin Tate said. “Her leadership has helped us get a few things back on track and her fresh perspective has helped us work through pressing deadlines and tough times.”
 Board members partnered with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association to help facilitate the superintendent search, including hosting a community survey and conducting focus groups. According to Tate, input from both the survey and focus groups were incredibly valuable as board members navigated the search process and narrowed down the candidate pool.
 “Dr. Ashley Davis’ experience and leadership at her current and past schools showed us she is a very qualified and skilled leader,” Tate said. “She checked all the boxes; parents, students, staff and the community told us they were looking for in a superintendent. Dr. Davis has a lot of experience in other school districts, helping them overcome turbulent times. We believe that experience makes her the type of leader that will help our district to grow and flourish.”
 Dr. Ashley Davis has over 25 years of experience in education as both an administrator and teacher. She is currently the superintendent for Drumright Public Schools. Before her role as Drumright Superintendent, Davis served in leadership positions for districts such as Yukon, Moore and Oklahoma City and has experience as a principal, assistant principal, instructional facilitator and secondary curriculum coordinator.
 She has a master’s degree in education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and, in 2008, obtained her doctorate in philosophy and educational leadership from Capella University.
 “I’ve enjoyed the small-town atmosphere,” Dr. Davis said. “Through the interview process, I have enjoyed getting to know the school board members. I believe that Ninnekah Public Schools has a lot to offer, and I can’t wait to be a part of the district and the community.”
 OSSBA has helped facilitate superintendent searches across the state, working with other school board associations throughout the country to ensure a competitive candidate pool. The non-profit organization has partnered with several Oklahoma school districts of all sizes to perform superintendent searches, including El Reno, Cordell, Deer Creek and Woodland.