Olathe Superintendent Brent Yeager has been named the 2027 Kansas Superintendent of the Year.
The announcement, from the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association, came Monday morning, six years into Yeager’s time as leader of Olathe Public Schools.
It also comes at a time of great uncertainty in the district, from the school board’s recent vote to close six schools to handling a federal investigation over transgender student policies and preparing for a potential lawsuit against the state over special education funding.
“This is an incredible honor, and one I share with the thousands of people who pour their hearts into our students every day,” Yeager said in a Monday press release. “To be recognized alongside two outstanding superintendents and colleagues who are doing tremendous work in their own communities, as well as the incredible superintendents across this state, makes this honor even more meaningful.”
Yeager was one of three finalists shortlisted for the award last month, including Cindy Couchman of Buhler USD 313 and Blake Vargas of Cane Valley USD 436.
The district posted a video online of Yeager being surprised by the announcement by staffers, board members and Yeager’s own children.
Yeager is the second Johnson County superintendent to receive the top award in recent years. Michelle Hubbard, former Shawnee Mission School District superintendent, won the award the same year she retired in 2024.
Also, prior to his time in USD 232 in De Soto, Superintendent Cory Gibson received the award in 2020 while at the Valley Center School District in Wichita.
Brent Yeager’s career in Olathe
Before starting his career in education, Yeager earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kansas State University.
A few years later, he earned his master’s degree in school leadership and education from Baker University. Then, his career in Olathe started.
He worked as Fairview Elementary principal from 2006 to 2010. Yeager then went back to Baker to earn a doctorate of education in district leadership.
In 2011, he started a new role as executive director of general administration and elementary programs before becoming the assistant superintendent of learning services.
Yeager served in that role until he was hired as district superintendent in 2021, replacing John Allison, who retired after leading the district for four years.
“Olathe is home for me, and I am incredibly proud to represent a district and community that have meant so much to me and my family,” Yeager said on Monday in the district-issued press release. “I am truly humbled. At the end of the day, this work has never been about awards or recognition; it is about the students who walk through our doors every morning and the people who show up for them each and every day.
“They are why I chose education,” he continued, “why I continue to love this work and why I am so incredibly proud to call Olathe home.”
In the wake of school closures
Yeager leads one of Kansas’ largest districts, with roughly 28,000 students and more than 4,000 employees, according to the district website.
The Kansas School Superintendent Association’s announcement came just days after the Olathe school board voted to close six schools at the end of this school year.
Gera Netcher, a Walnut Grove parent and co-founder of the group Olathe Families United fighting against the closures, said she hopes to work with Yeager going forward.
“Olathe Families United congratulates Dr. Yeager on being named Kansas Superintendent of the Year,” Netcher told the Post via text. “Families who have reached out to us continue to express frustration because they do not feel their concerns about school closures received meaningful consideration. They want to know how their input influenced the decision and receive direct answers to the questions they raised.
“We continue to seek transparency, accountability, and collaboration,” she added. “We welcome working with Dr. Yeager to address those concerns and evaluate solutions together. Families deserve to participate as partners in decisions affecting their children’s education.”
The district projects enrollment to fall to under 26,000 students over the next 15 years, which would be a decrease of about 4,000 students from its peak in 2019.
KSSA noted challenges Yeager has faced
At the same time, the district is facing other headwinds.
Olathe is preparing for the possibility of the U.S. Department of Justice suing the district, as well as Shawnee Mission, over policies aimed at accommodating transgender students.
Federal officials’ investigation has narrowed down to the allegation that the districts have used “gender support plans” to help transgender students transition at schools without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
The districts have denied breaking any federal laws. In June, Olathe signed a voluntary resolution agreement with the Department of Education, which later rejected the agreement. Since then, the Department of Justice has sued another local district, Kansas City, Kansas, over similar allegations.
Meanwhile, Olathe is also one of four Johnson County districts that have formed the Kansas Public School Funding Coalition, pressing the state to fully fund special education services at the statutorily required level of 92% of excess costs.
The group, which also includes Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and USD 232, hired legal counsel.
In its announcement, the Kansas School Superintendents Association noted that funding fight as part of the reason it was honoring Yeager.
“Dr. Yeager has also led Olathe Public Schools through significant financial challenges by advocating for sustainable funding, building community trust, and maximizing available resources,” the announcement said. “He helped establish the Kansas Public School Funding Coalition to strengthen advocacy for special education funding and has consistently engaged policymakers on behalf of public education.”
“Joyful in the journey”
Olathe Board Member Claire Reagan echoed those sentiments in comments to the Post Monday, saying part of being a good leader is the ability to navigate difficult situations.
“Effective leaders are capable of recognizing when they have to do hard things, making decisions or ushering forward initiatives that may not be broadly popular, but may also be extremely necessary,” she said. “I appreciate that Dr. Yeager is joyful in the journey, especially in recent months when the journey has been challenging.
“Having someone at the helm of our district, setting the tone for the culture of our district — that is a tall order,” Reagan continued. “And he does it well. I am honored to work with him as a board member, and to also call him a friend.”
Reagan first met Yeager five years ago, before she was elected to the board but was a parent in the district. Their work now has brought them closer, Reagan said.
Yeager will be honored alongside fellow nominees during the 2027 Kansas Superintendent of the Year Gala held Nov. 5 in Wichita. He also goes on to represent Kansas for consideration in the 2027 National Superintendent of the Year award.
