On Jan. 16, 2026, Farmington School District families were notified, via Rooms, (the new online platform for event sharing in the district) about the resignation of Superintendent, Dr. Kyle Gibbs.
Gibbs accepted a new position as Superintendent with the Northwest R-I school district located in House Springs, Mo. Gibbs’ time as Superintendent will conclude at the end of this school year, and the process of searching for a qualified educator to fill the position is underway.
In the official release from the FSD Administrative Offices, the team wrote, “Dr. Gibbs will continue to serve fully as Superintendent throughout the remainder of the school year. He will remain present and engaged across the district, continue to lead executive and leadership team meetings, and work closely with the executive team on annual budget and staffing planning.”
The board has teamed up with the Missouri Schools Board Association, or MSBA, to work alongside them during the process of searching for a new Superintendent. The association will help with creating applicant profiles, organizing goals, coordinating leadership details, and assisting with the interview and selection process.
The week after Gibbs’ notice of resignation, on Jan. 21, 2026, families received a message from FSD Communications Director, Mrs. Melinda Southern, regarding a community survey aimed at giving families a chance to voice their input on the Superintendent search process.
On the official district website, a page dedicated to informing district families about the Superintendent search process stated, “As part of this process, MSBA has developed a community input survey to gather feedback from parents, staff, and community members. Survey results will help inform the leadership profile used during the search.”
The survey asks FSD families to provide their “narrative insights” and “rank” the priorities of the Superintendent search. This will help the board understand the needs of the community when reviewing applicants.
“Your feedback regarding what “desired qualifications” are most important for this position will ensure the new hire is a good fit for both the school district and community,” per the survey.
The survey will be accepting responses from community members until Feb. 8, 2026 and can be found on the official district website.
The page also outlines the timeline of events for the Superintendent search. From Jan. 21, 2026 to Feb. 8, the board will be collecting responses from the community survey. Then, as the board moves forward with the search procedure, from Jan. 21 to Feb. 22, educators will have the opportunity to apply for the position. On Feb. 25, 2026, the board will gather to look over the applicants. On March 5, 2026, the board will hold interviews, and on March 11, 2026, the board will interview the final group of potential candidates.
Upon selection, the board will offer more information to the public about the filled position. As for the page on the district website, it is recommended that community members check back often for updates.
In addition to the ongoing Superintendent search, the Board of Education election for April 7, 2026 is underway, with several candidates vying for a seat on the board. Current members of the board, Angela Hahn, Board President, Howard Hoehn, Board Vice President, and Jerry Freeman, Board member, are running for reelection as their terms will expire in the spring.
Three seats are open on the board, and that means three candidates can be elected. To be eligible, candidates must be of age, a United States citizen, a resident of Missouri and the district, and a registered voter. Each candidate has their own mission and reason for running.
In a Facebook post, candidate Vanessa Pegram stated, “I believe strong schools are built on student success, support for teachers, and transparency. I want to ensure our students flourish and teachers are prioritized.”
Another candidate, Kyle S. Short, wrote in a post, “My top priorities are improving safety and security on our campuses and supporting our teachers so we can recruit and retain the best educators for our students.”
Candidate Ethan Smallen, in a post on Facebook, gave a statement. “I’ve spent the last year or so trying to be more proactive and I feel like ensuring the local school district’s investment in the youth of this great community is one the most important jobs one can do for our community.”
Stephanie Cabrera, also running for a seat on the board, made a Facebook post to announce her candidacy. “I believe in the potential of our students, staff, and schools,” Cabrera stated. “I’m stepping up to bring a steady, thoughtful voice—grounded in experience, logic, and care—to help guide our district forward.”
During the election, voters will vote for up to three candidates and the three with the most votes will be sworn in as seat members. The Board President and Vice President seats are elected by the members internally after the new members are seated.
For more information regarding the community survey and the Superintendent search process, visit www.fsdknights.com.
