KAMS director announces retirement

Following a career spanning four decades in education, Ron Keller, director of the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, has announced this will be his last year in that role, stepping down to spend more time with his family.

“Students might need me at night, or parents might need me day or night, or international agents need me day or night, or whatever it might be. It’s been an extremely busy job,” Keller said. Now Keller and his wife Dana, feel “like it’s time for us to spend some time together.”

“We’ve never seen the Grand Canyon. We want to see the leaves turn on the East Coast,” Keller said. “We just want to go and explore the United States. We’ve been a lot of places, but there’s a lot of places we haven’t been.”

The search for a new director will be lead by Joey Linn, associate vice president for student affairs.

“Having been involved in KAMS over the past number of years, I am a strong supporter of the program and look forward to working more directly with the KAMS students and their families,” Linn said.

“The work has been very gratifying,” Keller said. “I’ve loved every single minute of it. I’ve really loved working with these students, and I’ve really enjoyed the Fort Hays State University community.”

“I feel we’re leaving the Academy in great shape. We’ve got some awesome students here,” said Keller.

“Keller began his career with five years as a teacher and coach at Northern Valley High School, Almena. Then came five years teaching and coaching at Liberal High School, two years at Pampa High School, Pampa, Texas, and three years as an assistant principal and activities director back at Liberal High School. After that came 19 years as a principal, first at Colby High School, then Meade High School and Stanton County High School, Johnson, and the final five years before KAMS at Hugoton Middle School,” according to a press release issued by FHSU.

More information about the program can be found on their website or by calling 785-628-4690.