Leaming Named PCPS Superintendent

Adam Leaming, Assistant Superintendent for Ponca City Public Schools, was named PCPS Superintendent on Monday night by the Ponca City Board of Education. Leaming will replace Shelley Arrott effective July 1, 2023, who is retiring from her position.

Leaming was hired by PCPS in the summer of 2021 as the Executive Director of Operations. He was named Assistant Superintendent of Operations in July of 2022. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the University Center of Ponca City, principal of West Middle School from 2010-2012 and assistant principal at WMS from 2007-2010, where he was recognized as Oklahoma’s Top Assistant Principal in 2010.

“I’m very honored with the trust that the Board of Education has placed in me,” said Leaming. “It’s been rewarding to have worked with such a strong educational advocate in Mrs. Arrott and I look forward to building on the foundation she laid.”

“My family and I have been blessed in Ponca City. We love our community and we want nothing but amazing things to continue here. I will be soaking up every minute during this transition time with Shelley, and we will work diligently to ensure we continue moving in a positive direction for our students and community.”

“The board is very satisfied with the selection of Adam Leaming as the new Ponca City Public School Superintendent,” said Board President Judy Throop. “We believe he has demonstrated the characteristics the board was seeking and is ready for the job. This is a great opportunity for him and for our district.”

“The board has been taking applications from inside and outside candidates across the country, but ultimately felt we had the best candidate in our own district,” said Throop.

Leaming is a 1999 graduate of Newkirk High School. Adam has received a B.S. in Mathematics from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and a M.S. in Public School Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. His life work has been in the field of public education. Beginning as a substitute teacher in 2002, then as a 6th grade math teacher in 2003, he later transitioned into leadership roles as an assistant principal, and then building principal for Ponca City Public Schools.

In January 2013, Adam transitioned into higher education leadership when he was tabbed as the third CEO/President of the University Center at Ponca City by the UC regents. Adam quickly became involved with the Community and State, serving in a variety of different capacities. In 2014, Adam graduated from the 28th Ponca City Leadership class. Immediately following he was selected as one of the 2014 participants for Leadership Oklahoma’s 28th class. In 2015 upon graduating Leadership Oklahoma, Adam was named by the Oklahoma Magazine as one of Oklahoma’s 40 under 40 top professionals. Later in 2015, the Journal Record tabbed Leaming as one of their Top Achiever’s under 40 in Oklahoma. In 2017, Leaming served as the Chair for the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, Senator Inhofe asked Leaming to help serve in the selection of Oklahoma youth for the Nation’s service academies.

Adam is currently involved in a number of organizations at the state and local level. He has served on Oklahoma’s Small Business Development Center Advisory board, Standing Bear Native American Foundation board, Phillips66 Community Advisory Committee, Marland Estate Foundation, and the Leadership Oklahoma board of directors, including as the Chair for Youth Leadership Oklahoma in 2021.

Adam enjoys balancing a career and his commitment to his family, including his four children, Annie (16) Sam (13), Jack (4), and Luke (three months) and his wife Elizabeth. Together, they enjoy making Ponca City their home.

“As the retiring superintendent of the district that means so much to me, it is with great confidence that I leave behind this position knowing that my replacement is not only highly qualified, but also possesses the necessary skills and attributes to take our educational system to the next level,” said Arrott.

“Through his employment with the district as Assistant Superintendent of Operations and the vast amount of institutional knowledge this job has required and his connection to our community and state, Adam Leaming will hit the ground running and I have full confidence the transition will be smooth and successful. Adam has a deep commitment to our school district, students, and community, and I am personally very excited for the future of Ponca City Public Schools!”

The district has now opened the search for a new Executive Director of Operations.