Ron Wilson spends his last days at Abilene Middle School (AMS) reflecting on the years he has spent here as principal and looking forward to his new position as superintendent of Herington USD 487.

“My best memories would definitely be all the relationships I have developed with students, staff and parents here over the years,” Wilson says. “Abilene has been a great place to work and raise our kids! I will leave here with nothing but fond memories of good people and good times.”

He refers to the past 18 years as principal at AMS as “a great ride!”

“I hope I leave AMS a little bit better because of what I have had a hand in here,” he adds.

Wilson enjoyed being a teacher and coach in the Minneapolis, Kan. school district before looking at the position of principal “as a challenge and something I really wanted to do.”

“Being a principal of a school has so many positives of how you can impact a culture by the way you lead,” he says. “I feel that is one of my strengths, my leadership skills. I have always tried to do my job with enthusiasm and humor while at the same time being respectful to everyone and working towards helping people solve problems.”

He will, of course, miss the students, staff and parents at Abilene Middle School.

“There are so many great people that make this a great place to come every day,” he says. “I have been lucky to have been able to call this my home-away-from-home for the last 18 years! Abilene Middle School will always have a special place in my heart.”

Wilson looks forward to his new position as the superintendent of another school in Dickinson County, Herington School District 487, beginning July 1. 

“I look at it as another challenge to use my leadership skills to help an entire school district to achieve success,” he says. “I have always thought to be a superintendent of an entire school district is a unique opportunity to impact so many different parts of what it takes to make a successful school district.”