News editor
Peabody-Burns High School graduate Brian Smith was offered a contract Monday to be Centre USD 397’s new superintendent. The board was going to meet at 5:30 a.m. today regarding ratification of the contract. If finalized, Smith will succeed Jerri Kemble.
Smith graduated from Peabody-Burns in 1992 and received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in 1997. He was math teacher and activities and athletic director at Argonia from 1998 to 2005.
He received a master’s degree from Friends University in 2005. He also received his district-level certification from Friends in 2007. He has been K-12 principal at Wilson schools since 2005.
Smith said proximity to family was one of the factors that attracted him to Centre. His parents, Bruce and Jean Smith, still live in Peabody. He also said he was ready to take a superintendent position, liked Centre’s use of technology, and felt comfortable with the staff and school.