By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Co-op, which includes Hays, is leaving the co-op for another job.
Kyle Carlin was honored by co-op school psychologists, including Julie Zollinger, at the May 12 Hays USD 489 school board meeting.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize and honor the leadership and service of our special education director, Kyle Carlin, as he concludes this chapter of his career with the cooperative,” Zollinger said.
“Kyle began his journey here as a school psychologist, later serving as assistant director, and ultimately as director. Because he has walked in the same roles we do, his leadership has always been grounded in a deep understanding of both the challenges and the strengths of our work. He didn't lead from a distance. He led from experience.”
Under Carlin’s leadership, the cooperative became recognized as a model for appropriate student-to-psychologist ratios and for fully implementing the National Association of School Psychologists practice model, Zollinger said. “These changes didn't just improve systems, they improved services for students and created healthier, more sustainable working conventions for providers,” she said.
Carlin also prioritized proactive support for his staff through regular one-on-one meetings. He promoted clarity, problem-solving, and early resolution of concerns, ensuring small issues never became major barriers. His commitment to strong onboarding through boot camps, clear guidance documents and thoughtfully curated resources, such as the specific learning disability determination toolkit, sets staff up for confidence and consistency, Zollinger said.
From day one, that handbook continues to be a foundational reference in almost every initial evaluation across the cooperative, she said.
“His vision extended beyond documentation and compliance initiatives like stoic and the pillars framework, the implementation of Scout AI and expanded guidance systems reflect his forward-thinking approach to operational efficiency and professional practice,” Zollinger said.
Carlin also successfully led the transition of Russell USD 407 into the cooperative and played a key role in expanding WeKan, the 18 to 21-year-old program, strengthening services for students and families during the critical stage of life, Zollinger said.
“What perhaps defines his leadership most clearly is how we balance empathy with accountability,” she said. “He consistently modeled integrity, ethical decision making and adherence to professional standards, while also reminding us to prioritize our own families and well-being.
“He recognized that caring for ourselves allows us to serve the students at our best. Time and again, Kyle has been a trusted resource in complex and challenging situations, offering clear, systematic guidance that empowered teams across the districts to move forward with confidence.”
Zollinger said Carlin led by modeling the practices he believed in, leaving a lasting impact on educators, administrators and service providers throughout the cooperative.
“Our cooperative is stronger, more stable and more responsive because of his leadership. The systems he built, the standards he upheld and the people he mentored will continue to shape our worth long after his departure,” she said.
“On behalf of the school psychologist, we thank Kyle for his dedication, vision and service. His influence will continue to be felt in our practice, our collaboration, and most importantly, in the lives of the students and families we serve.”
Anita Scheve, Wilson Elementary School principal, will assume the role of co-op director on July 1.