Brockman selected as Vian superintendent

Following a special meeting on Friday of Vian’s Board of Education, the board issued a press release stating it had unanimously voted to name John Brockman as the school’s next superintendent.

According to the release, 17 applications were received for the position, with Brockman emerging as the best candidate.

The board members said they conducted an extensive search, spending dozens of hours reviewing resumes, calling references, researching candidates and more than 15 hours of board meetings and interviews before deciding on Brockman.

Brockman has served the Vian School District for 26 years, including five of those as Vian High School Principal and 26 as an award-winning baseball coach. He obtained his masters degree in 2018, and holds teaching certificates in history, geography and physical education, as well as his principal and superintendent certifications. He is also a member of Oklahoma’s Baseball Hall of Fame.

Brockman will step down as principal and baseball coach at the end of the school year. He and the board will immediately begin the effort to fill those positions for 2023-24.

The Vian Board of Education consists of Ken Pack, James Thornton, Jeff Cotner, Joe Paul Simon and John Ford. Ford was sworn in recently after being elected earlier this month, and Pack took over his term as president at the regular April monthly meeting.

Board members expressed their strong belief that the change in administration creates an excellent and critical opportunity for Vian Public Schools to refocus its priorities on maximizing academic achievement, improving student discipline, increasing expectations and accountability of students and staff, and reinvigorating school spirit and morale at all levels. Brockman assured the board that he was eager to accept those challenges and to make numerous important changes.

“We’ve urged Mr. Brockman to make sure that every hour of every school day is focused on teaching and learning,” Thornton said. “And we believe the staff will completely support him on that.”

The board emphasized a change in leadership is a critical opportunity to revisit policies and priorities.

“We’ve told John we have high expectations, and that we will absolutely stand behind him in the effort to improve discipline and academics at all levels,” Simon said.

Brockman’s wife, Danielle, is also a long-time Vian Schools employee and a much-valued middle school counselor, according to board members.

Brockman replaces current Superintendent Victor Salcedo, who resigned last month.