Dr. Lynn Pulliam has been named the lone finalist in Canadian ISD’s search for Superintendent Kyle Lynch’s successor. That announcement signals the onset of a 21-day waiting period, required by state law, that the school board must observe before formally offering Pulliam a contract.

The decision by school trustees was announced following an executive session at the end of their July 8 meeting, but came as little surprise to anyone who has followed Dr. Pulliam’s career.

Lynn and Lawana Pulliam first came to Canadian in 2002, when he was hired to succeed veteran educator Karen Minyen as Canadian Elementary School principal, and Lawana, as Title I teacher at Baker Elementary. While here, Pulliam finished his coursework in Baylor University’s Scholars of Practice doctoral program.

In 2005, the Pulliams moved to Amarillo, where he served as principal of Southlawn Elementary School for one year, then as Crockett Middle School principal for two years. He completed work on his doctoral dissertation in 2007.

Three years ago, Dr. Pulliam was lured back from his position as principal of Amarillo’s Tascosa High School to take the place of retiring CHS Principal Rick Berry. Lawana left her post as principal at Forest Hill Elementary to become Canadian ISD’s instructional-technology specialist.

Since then, both have worked closely with Lynch on the process of school transformation, guiding the district toward a system focused less on standardized testing and more on local accountability.

Dr. Pulliam said he is eager to pursue the process that Lynch began.

“I think focusing on digital learning and high-priority learning standards, and on local accountability,” he said, “allows us to really emphasize the things we think are important, outside of state assessment: industry certifications, opportunities for kids to learn a skill and get certification for something that could lead to a living-wage job right out of high school, or entry into—if it’s not a traditional college path—then a certification program, internship, or some type of vo-tech program.”

Included among those priorities are an emphasis on community engagement and community service.

“I think we’re getting close,” Dr. Pulliam said. “When we do it, we don’t want it to be a top-down mandate. We’ve tried to avoid that, and to involve people from the classrooms and the community. When you do that, it just takes time, but at the end of the day, it’s more meaningful when they have been involved in that whole process.”

Dr. Pulliam hopes that the shift in focus will result in a system of education that both students and teachers find engaging. “When students are involved in a project or problem they’re trying to solve, then they’re more heavily invested in it. That’s our big push. To plan around engaging lessons, and not as much rote-type activities and worksheets and those things.”

While he recognizes that the STAAR test is a piece of what the school has to do, “Hopefully, we’re viewing it from the perspective of it being only one measurement of what we’re doing.”

The good news, he said, is that as a district, Canadian ISD has earned an A-rating. “We’re doing OK,” he said. “If we’re doing a good job, the state assessment will take care of itself. But let’s do some things that are engaging for the kids, and that bring some joy back to the classroom.”

“We came to Canadian because we love Canadian,” Dr. Pulliam said, in conclusion. “It’s a community of choice for us. We’re just so excited about what opportunities this will provide.”

“It will be great to be able to work with Lawana in that professional capacity,” he added. “She’s outstanding in curriculum and instruction, and instructional technology, and with our transformation efforts. It’s a supergood deal for us.”

The Pulliams have two children—Stephen, who begins his senior year at Canadian High School this year, and Clara, a freshman.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A complete list of teachers and staff members will be published in The Canadian Record’s Back to School edition, which will be on newsstands Thursday, Aug. 8—in advance of the first day of the 2019-20 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 20.