This past Friday, the Blue Valley School District swore in Dr. Gillian Chapman to fill the role of the district’s new Superintendent.
The hunt for filling this position began in November of 2024 after Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan announced that she would be retiring at the end of the ’24-’25 school year. Staff and community members of the Blue Valley School District provided their input to help guide the search, with the district ultimately deciding on Chapman because of her experience within the education field.
Chapman currently serves as the superintendent of Teton County School District in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. When the role within Blue Valley opened Chapman saw it as a chance for many things, one of them being to reunite with family.
“It really wasn’t until January when I was thinking about it [moving], because this is my home and every time I’m here visiting my family and friends it’s harder and harder to leave,” Chapman said.
Chapman is hoping to bring her strengths to the district, such as generating student-centered change and leading strategic planning and infrastructure growth. Another aspect she hopes to develop is making Blue Valley feel like home for students and staff.
“One of the things I really feel strongly about is that Blue Valley is a place where all of our students and families should call home,” Chapman said. “ I want our students to come back to this area and say this is home, and this is what made me the person I am today.”
Chapman said overall she is looking forward to getting to know the community within Blue Valley.
“I’m really looking forward to connecting with more students and being home, the midwest values are really second to none,” Chapman said. “Our students are really fortunate to grow up here.”
And while Chapman said the timing for the move isn’t perfect, she knows it’s the right decision.
“The timing wasn’t perfect for me personally or professionally, although my family is here and everyone wants to be a part of a winning team,” Chapman said.
Chapman will begin her work as the Blue Valley District’s new superintendent starting July 1.
