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Dr. Dierksen

Superintendent of Schools – Dr. Fred Dierksen
2112 1st Avenue  |  Dodge City, KS 67801
Phone (620) 371-1070

Dr. Dierksen

Dr. Fred Dierksen's tenure as superintendent of Dodge City Public Schools began in July 2017.

Dr. Dierksen obtained his post-secondary education from Sterling College, Fort Hays State University, and received his Doctorate of Educational Administration from Wichita State University. His first teaching position was in Jetmore, Kansas, where he was quickly promoted to Principal, later to Principal of Sterling Grade School, where he transitioned to Superintendent of Sterling Public Schools.  While in Sterling, Kansas, he expanded programs and grant funding to support ongoing learning for pre-K through 12th grade students.

As an active community member, Dr. Dierksen has served on numerous boards and advisory councils.  Most recently, serving on the Governor's Council of Education, and as chair-elect for the Council of Superintendents for Kansas State Department of Education. He has received many honors, including SCKMEA Administrator of the Year, 2015.

Relationships and connections are vital to Dr. Dierksen. He believes that "Every Encounter Is Important," and that is how he rates the success of each day.   His leadership focus is on literacy proficiency for all students.

Dr. Dierksen and his wife Susan, have five grown children.  They enjoy traveling, skiing, and cruising in their 1959 Fiat.

Message from Dr. Dierksen

2023-2024

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year.  This is my seventh year, and it remains my honor to serve our large, historic, diverse and wonderful district, and I mean that!

First, I want to give credit to our board members who have guided our district and have done a wonderful job. Next, I want to say how grateful I am for our support services.  Our nutrition department, maintenance and ground crews have done a wonderful job to have our schools ready for the new year.

Secondly, I wish to welcome our new employees to the team; you bring an energy that motivates all of us to perform at our highest abilities.

Each year I review my overall goals for the district:

  1. Literacy – Read!
  2. ESOL – English for speakers of other languages.
  3. Every Encounter Is Important (EEII) According to John Calvert with Safe and Secure Schools Unit, “the number 1 thing we can do to keep our schools safe is to build and maintain positive relations with our students.”  This sentiment is at the heart of EEII and why we acknowledge Hawaiian Shirt Thursday.

My charge to all of you, no matter what you do and what you teach, we have 7,439 students wanting to be successful.  I hope you are excited for this year and the opportunity to help each student, knowing that every interaction, every encounter can shape their future.

Each year I coin a phrase to use as a theme.  The first year was We are a School Family (443 & 613). The second year was Simplify and Focus.  The third year was Pivot, then Keep our Common Sense.  Last year was Responsibility, and this year our theme is Value.

Finally, in the same way that I care for students, I care of each one of you and the job that you do.  You are a part of our story, and we are a part of yours.  This district is who we are because of each and every person that plays a role in it.  I care about custodians, maintenance and ground crews, cooks, bus drivers, office staff, and those who serve our students with special needs.  You are ALL important to this district.  If this is your first year with the district, I hope you can feel the culture and know that it is a special place.  Join us and be a part of serving our students and families to the best of our abilities. I know that I say this every year, but I believe it and I try to live it.

We have to try to make this the best year for each child that it can possibly be, they deserve it. We are a school family.