Michael Fulton starts tenure as new Shawnee Mission superintendent. Five months after the board announced his hiring, new Shawnee Mission Superintendent Michael Fulton officially starts his tenure this week. Fulton, who was superintendent of Pattonville Public Schools outside St. Louis for the past 11 years, is the eighth superintendent in district history, and succeeds Jim Hinson, who unexpectedly announced his retirement in April 2017.

In an interview with the Shawnee Mission Post in April, Fulton said he intends to bring the same focus on building collaborative relationships that marked his time in Pattonville to Shawnee Mission. “You do want to create an environment where people feel like they have voice,” he said. He also stressed the need to be proactive about addressing changing demographics and closing the achievement gap. And Fulton, who has a brother with special needs, said districts have to ensure districts provide quality services to students with IEPs.