End of An Era: Superintendent Dr. Shane McCord’s Final Governing Board Meeting

The Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board marked the conclusion of a significant chapter in June, with the final official board meeting under the leadership of retiring Superintendent Dr. Shane McCord.

After leading the district since 2017 and dedicating over three decades to public education, Dr. McCord's final meeting served as a celebration of his leadership and a formal handoff to the future.

Dr. McCord’s tenure has been widely praised by town officials, staff, and board members for returning a sense of stability and collaboration to Gilbert Public Schools. Having navigated the district through the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent academic realignment, McCord has consistently emphasized a student-first philosophy.

At his final meeting, the GPS Governing Board celebrated Dr. McCord for fostering an open, transparent governance culture between district administration, families, and the community.

“The culture of this district is relationships,” commented Dr. McCord. “We can have goals, we can have strategies, and we can have excellent test scores, and we can have missions, but none of that matters if we don’t have a heart.”

As Dr. McCord prepares to step down at the end of the school year, the meeting also solidified the district’s transition plans. Earlier this year, the Governing Board unanimously selected Dr. Jared Ryan to serve as the next Superintendent, effective July 1, 2026.

Dr. Ryan represents the first internal superintendent hire for the district in nearly two decades, a move McCord heavily endorsed. "He's the right person for the job," McCord stated proudly to the board. "He was born to do this job."

Dr McCord requested Dr Ryan join him in front of the dais; nameplates were switched, and the official “hand-off” took place.

Alongside leadership changes, the board pushed forward on essential business, including:

• Fiscal Planning: Previews of the FY2027 budget, which includes a districtwide 3% pay increase for staff to maintain competitive compensation.
• Enrollment: Reviewing positive adjustments to the fiscal year budget following smaller-than-expected enrollment losses.

True to his collaborative nature, Dr. McCord deflected personal accolades during his final remarks, insisting that any success achieved during his tenure belonged to the collective hard work of teachers, staff, and students. 

The full recording of this historic and emotional final meeting can be viewed via the official Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board Livestream.