Kevin Hime
Lawton superintendent Kevin Hime is the recipient of the Medal for Excellence in Elementary/Secondary School Administration.
Since his arrival in December 2019, Hime’s innovative programs have transformed Lawton Public Schools.
“From the moment I met him, I knew amazing things were going to happen for our district, and he would make long-lasting impacts for our community,” said Lynn Cordes, the district’s executive director of communications. “I could not have imagined the leaps and bounds we have made since then!”
Hime and his staff worked with Great Plains Technology Center and Cameron University to open the Life Ready Center. The LRC, which Hime calls a “game-changer,” provides high school students access to programs and concurrent classes previously available at only one of the district’s campuses.
Hime started the Lawton Technical Applications Program, which provides hands-on, career-oriented classes to students in grades 7 through 10. Hime also implemented a 5,000-student virtual school, and he established a partnership in which the Lawton Public School Foundation covers funding for college tuition, books and fees for students while they’re enrolled at LPS.
“To help our students achieve success, we must be willing to think outside of the box and provide opportunities to achieve what I call one of the 3E’s: enrolled, enlisted, or employed,” Hime said. “If these opportunities do not currently exist, we cannot be afraid to step up and create them ourselves.”
He installed Makerspaces on all 18 elementary campuses. In these collaborative spaces, students work with a certified teacher to explore and create using problem-solving strategies and STEM practices.
Hime was the 2022 State Superintendent of the Year and the Oklahoma School Public Relations Association’s 2021-22 Superintendent of the Year. He currently serves as president for the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators and the United Suburban School Association.
An Idabel native, Hime received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. He started his career as a U.S. history teacher and coach, making stops at Hugo, Woodward and Idabel. Before arriving in Lawton, he served as superintendent at Woodland and Clinton.
Since 2020, Hime has hosted his “Time with Hime” podcast to communicate with school staff, families and stakeholders more effectively. He also organized and hosted the popular weekly #oklaed chat on Twitter (now known as X).
“To foster a sense of unity, it is vital for me, my staff, families, and stakeholders of our community to work together as a team,” Hime said. “This can only be done with effective and purposeful communication.”
