Assistant superintendent steps into new role as interim

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  • Steve Callen
  • The iron beams have arrived at the East Elementary building site. As the school site nears completion, the Weatherford Board of Education will select a new name for the soon-to-be intermediate school. Aubyn Phippen/WDN
  • As crews finish work on the saferooms at the East Elementary construction site, a crane waits to begin moving steel beams for the building’s main structure. Aubyn Phippen/WDN
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Last Friday, the Weatherford Public Schools board of education voted to name Assistant Superintendent Steve Callen interim superintendent until a new superintendent can be hired.

For Callen, this means more work added onto his already busy schedule, especially with the district’s ongoing bond building projects.

“As I take on the interim superintendent role, I will be overseeing everything at WPS and reporting to the school board,” Callen said. “I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of wonderful people who are really good at their jobs, so it makes this transition period much easier.”

While he was involved with the planning stages of the bond project, Callen now has a more active role overseeing the progress.

“Being involved planning allowed me to build relationships with our architect and construction management team,” he said. “Now, I’ll be working very closely with them and will communicate necessary information to the board, staff and community.”

Callen said it would not be possible to balance both his regular responsibilities and those as interim superintendent without the help of his office staff and school site administrators. He said they are all hard-working, knowledgeable, experienced and “willing to do whatever is needed for the team.

He also said he has no intention of applying for the superintendent position once it opens. Callen said it is a great position with a lot of support from the school board, the staff and faculty are “stellar” and the community is invested. However, he is not interested.

“I really enjoy my role as the assistant superintendent,” Callen said. “A majority of my responsibilities are behind the scenes, which fits my more ‘reserved’ personality. I feel I am effective in that role and get a lot of personal satisfaction out of the things I am able to accomplish for the school.”

Callen said his goals for the remainder of this year is to help staff effectively do their job and provide, a safe, productive learning environment for students.

Callen has 21 years of experience in education with the last 8 years at WPS. He was principal of Weatherford Middle School for 2 years before filling his current position.

He and his wife are both graduates of SWOSU with is wife teaching at the SWOSU School of Pharmancy. They have three children.