The Superior Express -

Rock Hills Schools has a new superintendent this year. Jeff Sells, the new superintendent, is from Belleville. He has lived in Jewell County for a little more than a month and said he moved here to take the open position. "This is home without being home," Sells said.

Sells attended school at Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State University. He has been in the education field for 18 years. The first five years in this field consisted of teaching eighth grade. Sells has also taught high school math for two years and middle school math for six years. He was a high school football coach for 13 years, a high school basketball coach for five years and a high school baseball coach for six years. Sells coached middle school track and basketball as well.

Sells met his wife of 13 years through her job in Park City. The have three children, one in first grade, one in Pre-K, and a two-year old. Sells also has two dogs.

While attending junior college, Sells worked for the Republic County Highway Department and throughout college he worked at a lumber yard. He was the assistant manager at Finish Line.

Sells is most looking forward to meeting and getting to know the community this year. He plans on being fully involved. Sells is responsible for making decisions on what's best for the students of Rock Hills. "I have a philosophy," he said. "I try to do what's best for the students, not always what's easy or comfortable for adults." Sells' ultimate goal is to get Rock Hills to be the premier district in the area. He wants Rock Hills to be the district that families want to send their children to and to be the district people want to work for. Sells wants to provide an atmosphere, culture and academic level that make people want to come to.

"I'm a very social person," Sells said. "The more I get involved, I want to lead by example. Hopefully when people see me at games and involved, families will want to be as well."

Sells knew that being a building administrator would be part of his career path. He started the classes to become an administrator early, while his children are young, so he wouldn't miss out on a lot of things. "When you start to take those classes, you kind of get that itch," Sells said when asked what made him decide to become the superintendent for Rock Hills. "I was kind of choosy in where I chose," he commented. "I didn't want to stay in the bigger cities, I wanted to come back to north central Kansas."

Advice that Sells has for aspiring education workers is that it can be some of the more challenging work, but it can be some of the more rewarding work. "It is wanting to help provide for students and make sure they are successful citizens of society," Sells advised. He said there are some challenging days, but it is all worth while when one student says something or even when a student comes up and gives you a hug.

Sells wants the community to know he is a social guy who likes to meet everybody. He wants people of the community to get to know them as a family. "Just come up and say 'Hi,'" Sells said. "I'm an open door policy. Come up and talk to me. Don't be afraid to approach me."