Cody Rierson's answer to what McPherson should expect from him as superintendent starts with presence.

"I plan on being heavily involved and visible," Rierson said in a written response to EdTribune. "I will be greeting students in the morning, helping with lunch duty, and even subbing in classrooms. Students are by far my favorite part of my job, and main focus."

Rierson confirmed the McPherson transition in June. His formal start is July 1, and he is taking the role at a moment when the district's enrollment data and facilities work both point toward a need for trust.

A Low Point in Enrollment

McPherson^↗ET enrolled 1,963 students in 2026, the low point in the Kansas package window. The district has lost 235 students since 2015, a 10.7% decline, and its latest year-over-year move was a 91-student drop, or 4.4%.

That context does not define Rierson's agenda by itself. But it sharpens his emphasis on relationships. Nearly half of the district's students, 45.8%, were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2026, and 20.1% were in special education. The work ahead is not only about construction or enrollment counts; it is about the daily experience families and staff have with the district.

Rierson tied that directly to the district's bond construction.

"Developing trust is going to be very important," he said. "There's no better time to do this than during bond construction. The patrons have shown support and belief in the school system by passing the bond."

His leadership frame is collaborative rather than managerial. "The district can do the same through a collaborative, shared approach during construction," Rierson said. "We can create something special together, physically through facilities for our Bullpups, and structurally through our processes, policies, and decision making."

Student First, Publicly

Asked how he hopes to lead, Rierson used a short phrase: "I am a student first leader."

He described that as both a decision-making test and a visibility promise. Families and staff, he said, should expect to see him in schools, among students and staff, and involved in the life of the district. He also framed the transition as personal: his own children will be involved in McPherson activities and athletics.

"We are already a part of this community, and always have been, and this just adds another fun layer," Rierson said. "I love this community very much, I'm humbled at this opportunity, and look forward to the challenge."

The challenge he kept returning to is trust. In his view, public schools depend on the working relationship among students, staff, patrons, and the board of education.

"Building trust takes time," Rierson said. "We need to keep that in mind as we work together for many, many years. And these first several years will truly set the foundation for many years."

For McPherson, Rierson said the initial focus will be relationships and visibility. He formally begins work with the Board of Education on the district's strategic plan in early July, and he said he is excited about the challenge ahead.

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