Olathe South High School names brand-new principal following racial incidents

OLATHE, Kan. - - The Olathe School District named a brand-new high school principal a week after Olathe South's principal resigned.

District Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager announced Sean DeMaree was promoted to head principal at Olathe South for the 2023-24 school year.

DeMaree worked as assistant principal at Olathe South during the past year.

Prior to his time in Olathe, DeMaree functioned as assistant principal at Carl B. Bruce Middle School in the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, was the Coordinator of Student Services and Social Emotional Learning in KCK, and functioned as Dean of Students and an Instructional Coach at West Middle School in KCK.

The modification comes one week after Dr. Dale Longenecker resigned from Olathe South High School. He made the decision following protests and a walkout at the school related to current racial incidents.

According to Kirubel Solomon, a student at Olathe South, a few of his schoolmates resolved him with racial slurs. He also stated students made a metal piece with the n-word engraved in it and gave it to him.

In an email to families on Tuesday, the Olathe superintendent stated leaders will pursue developing a better environment at Olathe South.

The Olathe Public Schools administration is devoted to offering stability for the OS staff, students and neighborhood as we close out the school year and head into the summer. Mr. DeMaree has had the chance to get to know the Falcon staff and trainees over the previous year and has a strong manage on the building culture, its strengths, and he has an intense vision for the future. He is understood for his favorable relationship-building abilities with students and personnel, and as a happy Olathe graduate himself, feels a deep connection to the Olathe neighborhood and aspires to lead the Olathe South neighborhood into the future.

Dr. Brent Yeager, Olathe School District Superintendent

The school district says it is working to fill the assistant principal position at Olathe South.

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Parents with students at Olathe South previously planned to go to the school board conference on June 1, to speak with the board about racial problems they state their children are facing.