Kuhn departing Mineral Wells ISD for similar post leading Abilene district, begins May 20

Apr. 5—MINERAL WELLS — John Kuhn said Friday he has accepted the superintendent's position at Abilene ISD and is leaving the helm at the Mineral Wells district.

"My time in Mineral Wells this past eight years has been the most exciting and personally enriching of my entire professional life," he said. "I've lived in the community for over 20 years, and I love this town. Things are happening here, and the community is growing."

Kuhn, who came from a similar position in Perrin-Whitt Consolidated ISD in 2016, brought previous Ram experience to Mineral Wells from an earlier stint as a classroom Spanish and English as a Second Language teacher — and bus driver — which began in 2002.

He said reaction to his departure has been encouraging.

"A lot of people just said nice things to me and that they enjoyed being on a team with me," he said, adding the early welcome to the 15,000-student Abilene district has been equally positive.

"It seems like there's a very eager spirit of welcoming me and wishing me the best," said Kuhn, adding superintendents in West Texas have contacted him offering help with his transition. "So I feel like there's a great support network to help me take over."

Abilene ISD Board President Daryl Zeller said, in a news release, that Kuhn's hiring was a district-wide process.

"We appreciate our community for sharing their voices throughout this process," Zeller said. "And we are confident that Dr. Kuhn will exceed their expectations as we begin a new chapter of equipping learners for brighter futures in Abilene ISD."

Zeller later told the Weatherford Democrat Kuhn was selected from "a large pool of candidate."

" ...which made us realize we were going to have a difficult task to choose just one," Zeller said. "Three character traits stood out in Dr. Kuhn, servant leadership, humility and a passion for all kids and community.

"Dr. Kuhn met all of our criteria and really seemed to possess the traits and skill sets that we felt would impact our community in AISD. We are excited about his future here in Abilene and realize he will always have a place in his heart and a love for the families and community in and around Mineral Wells."

Kuhn succeeds David Young, who was Abilene ISD superintendent for nine years before taking retirement as former Granbury ISD chief Jim Largent took on interim superintendent duties.

During his time at the helm of Mineral Wells ISD, Kuhn and trustees oversaw expansion of the ESL program. He also led a focus on ensuring students have access to professional mental health care, and he steered the district through the COVID-19 pandemic with all its logistical and educational challenges.

"We've identified opportunities to make things better over and over again," he said. "And we've gone for it, and I've had a board around me that was willing to do the things that make a positive difference."

Kuhn, who holds a Ph.D in education, said he will take the reins in Abilene before the school year is out.

"They want me to start May 20," he said.

He and his wife, Noelia, watched two sons graduate Mineral Wells High School, Noah and Evan. Their daughter, Liliana, will be a senior next year and will remain a Ram.

"She wants to graduate with her friends," he said. "We're going to figure all that out. We'll be burning up I-20."

Kuhn said the new position attracted him, in part, with its similarities to Mineral Wells.

"Abilene is like a big small town," he said, adding he did his homework on his future bosses, the board, on the AISD website. "The spirit of those people just appealed to me, and this was confirmed in the interview experience."

He indicated his final weeks in Crazy Town will be hectic.

"(I'll) help the board with the leadership transition and finish some projects that are ongoing," he said, including the disposition or sale of the historic Fannin Building among aspirations. "We still have the STAAR test coming up. I just want to be involved."

He said he'll bring the same leadership philosophy to Abilene as he espoused in Mineral Wells.

"Hire good people and get out of the way — that's No. 1," he said. "No. 2: every student, every day, whatever it takes. And, No. 3 — we don't have to do this, we get to do this."