As part of our series on the Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards, we’re highlighting districts that bring these principles to life. This month, we focus on the sixth characteristic: Aligning and sustaining resources to meet district goals. Dodge City USD 443 exemplifies this commitment through strategic planning, strong leadership and a strong dedication to student and staff success. 

Superintendent Fred Dierksen, who has led Dodge City USD 443 for the past eight years, has a simple yet powerful philosophy: keep the main thing, the main thing. For him, that main thing is always students. “Whatever the problem is, it’s important to always think about how it would affect the students,” he says. Under his leadership, the district has stayed laser-focused on its strategic action plan, ensuring that every decision ties back to student success.

As Ryan Ausmus, Dodge City Board Member and KASB Region 10 Vice-President, puts it, “Aligning resources with goals creates a culture of efficiency, accountability and production, greatly benefiting our students' learning and growth.”

To guide their efforts, the district developed the FACE of the district—an acronym representing Finance, Academics, Climate and Employees. These focus areas serve as a framework for aligning resources and ensuring that every initiative supports their broader educational goals.

A key part of Dodge City’s success is its commitment to community and stakeholder involvement. Leadership believes that listening to the voices of students, parents, teachers and community members is essential for making informed decisions. “Leadership is fluid,” Dierksen explains. “You have to listen to your community and stakeholders and allow the process to determine the needs.”

One of Dodge City’s strongest commitments is to its staff. Dierksen emphasizes that, “the number one resource that we need is people.” Recognizing that student success starts with highly effective educators, the district has prioritized retention instead of recruitment alone, fostering a culture where staff feel valued and supported.

Incoming Superintendent Jason Scheck, who currently serves as Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, has played a key role in these efforts. Under his leadership, the district has achieved an 87% staff retention rate, well above average. A major factor in this success is their Grow Your Own initiative, which provides pathways for local students to become future educators. The program currently has 18 teacher apprentices, with tuition assistance of $2,000 per semester to support their journey toward a four-year teaching degree.

Beyond academics, Dodge City is committed to making sure students graduate career-ready and are prepared for life beyond high school. The district places a strong emphasis on career and technical education (CTE) pathways, including their Teacher Cadet Program, which introduces high school students to the field of education.

“We work closely with students in our Teacher Cadet Program to show them what it’s like to be an educator in Dodge City,” says Scheck. “We want them to see the benefits of staying in our community and growing within our district.”

This aligns with a broader effort to encourage graduates to stay in Dodge City and contribute to their hometown. “A lot of people in our community will not leave—they want to stay in Dodge City,” School Board President Lisa Killion says. “That’s why we align our resources to support that idea, making sure we have opportunities for students to build careers here.”

“We’re truly putting our dollars where they need to be spent—building our teaching capacity,” says Scheck. “We know the most impactful way to increase student outcomes is by putting highly effective, highly qualified people in front of them.”

But it’s not just about hiring teachers—it’s about creating an environment where employees feel heard and supported. Scheck emphasizes the importance of engagement: “Employees want to feel like they are part of the team. They want to know their voices matter. That’s why we’ve shifted some of our recruitment practices to focus more on showing people what our district is all about.”

One of the most successful strategies has been inviting potential teachers to spend time in the district before making their decision. “Last year, we had about half of the people who visited Dodge City ultimately sign with us,” Scheck says. By giving them a firsthand experience of the culture and community, the district has strengthened its ability to attract and retain passionate teachers.

Dodge City isn’t just investing in its staff; it’s also deeply committed to engaging the broader community. With families from over 40 different countries, the district embraces its diversity and works closely with stakeholders to ensure alignment between community needs and district goals.

“I truly believe Dodge City is more like what they’re going to see in the world that they live in,” Dierksen says. “We do have to learn to get along with each other and we do have to learn to accomplish whatever our goals are, to come together and work for that cause.”

Killion, who has served on the board for 15 years, sees the district’s long-standing leadership as a key advantage. “Board continuity equals trust,” she says. “Many of our board members have been on for years, and that stability helps us align our resources to meet our goals.”

The district also maintains a communication feedback loop, ensuring that information flows effectively between administration, staff and the community. “We want feedback,” Scheck says. “We cannot do our jobs effectively without consistent two-way communication.”

“One of the most significant ways Dodge City ensures alignment is by keeping its strategic plan front and center,” Killion explains. “We developed these goals based on community input, and we make sure every item on our agenda reflects those priorities.” This focus has helped the district maintain a strong emphasis on curriculum alignment, career readiness and student achievement.

As Superintendent Dierksen prepares to retire at the end of the school year, the district remains committed to aligning goals and resources for maximum impact. With Scheck—who already has a deep understanding of the district’s vision—stepping into the leadership role, Dodge City is well-positioned to continue its tradition of excellence for years to come.

Want to see more examples of how Kansas school districts are bringing the Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards to life? Explore other district stories in this series:

• The 8 Characteristics of Effective Boards: An Overview
• Haysville's Vision Gets Community Buy-in
• Strong Values in Silver Lake Drive Student Success
• Lawrence Prioritizes Intentional Policymaking
• Collaboration Helps Rawlins County During Challenging Times
• Looking for Better Results, Burlingame Digs Into Data