Garden City Public Schools names Josh Guymon Interim Superintendent

Garden City, KS — Garden City Public Schools, USD 457, has announced that there will be an interim superintendent for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Garden City Board of Education has appointed current Deputy Superintendent, Josh Guymon, as Interim Superintendent of Garden City Public Schools following the resignation of Dr. Terry McCarty. Mr. Guymon will assume the role on July 1, 2025, ensuring stability and continuity in district leadership. His appointment will run through June 30, 2026, during which time the Board will conduct a thorough search for a permanent superintendent. The position will be reopened for applications in fall 2025, and interested candidates will have the opportunity to apply.

Board President Randy Ralston provided the following statement regarding Dr. McCarty’s resignation:

“On March 10, 2025, three members of USD 457’s Board of Education (Randy Ralston, Andy Fahrmeier, and Jackie Gigot), along with Drew Thon and Jennifer Cunningham, met with Dr. Terry McCarty. The purpose of this meeting was to ask Dr. McCarty questions related to the February 28, 2025, court filing by the Perry Public Schools in Perry, Oklahoma, as well as to hear any additional information that Dr. McCarty wished to share regarding the matter. At the conclusion of the questions and discussion, the USD 457 Board USD members informed Dr. McCarty that they had lost trust in him and no longer believed he was the right fit to serve a superintendent of schools for USD 457.”

“On March 11, 2025, the USD 457 Board of Education received a letter of resignation from Dr. McCarty. On behalf of the USD 457 Board of Education, I accept Dr. McCarty’s letter of resignation. As we move forward, we are pleased to announce that the current USD 457 Deputy Superintendent, Josh Guymon, has been appointed to the role of Interim Superintendent for the 2025-2026 school year. Josh has served USD 457 and its students as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, SPED Director, Assistant Superintendent, and Deputy Superintendent over the course of the last 28 years. I look forward to the leadership that Josh will provide Garden City Public Schools as the Board of Education renews the search for the District’s next Superintendent of Schools.”

With a long history of leadership within Garden City Public Schools, Mr. Guymon is well-positioned to guide the District through this transition. He currently serves as Deputy Superintendent of Support Services, overseeing critical district operations. His previous roles included Assistant Superintendent of School Operations, Director of Special Education, Head Principal at Garfield Early Childhood Center, Abe Hubert Elementary, and Associate Principal at Victor Ornelas, Buffalo Jones, Alta Brown, and Florence Wilson Elementary Schools, and a teacher at Garden City High School and Florence Wilson Elementary. His extensive experience across multiple levels of education gives him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within Garden City Public Schools and the community.

As interim superintendent, Mr. Guymon will oversee several key district initiatives, including the adoption of a new English Language Arts curriculum to enhance literacy instruction across all grade levels and the redrawing of district boundaries to balance enrollment and resources.. A continued focus on student reading growth remains a top priority as the District works to strengthen literacy initiatives and improve academic achievement.

Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Mr. Guymon shared his excitement about leading the District through this transition.

“I am extremely honored to be named Interim Superintendent of Schools for Garden City Public Schools. I love this community and our schools, and I am proud of the work we have done together to serve our students and families. I feel blessed that my wife and I decided to start our careers and raise our family here 28 years ago.”

“As we move forward, I am excited about the future of USD 457. I look forward to working with the Board of Education, our dedicated staff, and our community to continue providing the best educational opportunities for all our students. I am grateful for this opportunity and eager to continue serving Garden City.”

The search for a permanent superintendent will begin in the fall of 2025, and community in put will play a vital role in the selection process. The Board will provide regular updates and opportunities for stakeholders to share feedback as the search progresses.

For more information, visit www.gckschools.com.