From head football coach and high school principal to Superintendent, Mark Lippe has dedicated his career to the students of Adair High School. After Tom Linihan announced his retirement, in 2017, Lippe was hired in January and officially took over the position in July, 1st, 2017.
Lippe said he’s enjoyed his time serving as the Superintendent.
“What I enjoy most is being part of such a wonderful and supportive community. It truly is a privilege to work alongside our dedicated faculty and staff and to serve the incredible students of Adair Public Schools. Every day brings an opportunity to partner with educators who care deeply about kids and a community that consistently rallies around our school. Seeing our students grow, succeed, and take pride in their achievements is what makes this work so rewarding,” Lippe said.
During his career in education, Lippe said there are many people who helped shape him into the leader he is today.
“I’ve been fortunate to have several outstanding mentors throughout my career. The two superintendents who preceded me at Adair, Mr. Jack Dryden and Mr. Tom Linihan, were both tremendous resources and offered invaluable guidance as I entered school leadership. Dr. Don Raleigh, former Pryor superintendent and now president of RSU, has also been an exceptional role model, someone whose leadership I greatly admire and often look to model,” said Lippe. “The person who has had the most influence on my career, however, is Rusty Rankin from Vinita. I had the privilege of student teaching under Rusty, and it was during that time that I truly saw the importance of a great coach also being a great teacher. In many ways, I followed in his footsteps. As he transitioned into new roles at Vinita, I followed, from serving as head powerlifting and track coach to later becoming an assistant principal. Rusty has been my greatest mentor, and I am deeply grateful for the guidance he has provided and the example he has set.”
The job requires attention to every detail including something as crucial as insurance. Bringing Courtside on board was an important move.
“Our leadership team and school board were genuinely excited about the opportunity to provide life insurance to all of our employees at no cost to them. Courtside offered a level of value, service, and security that made the decision straightforward. The coverage they provide gives our staff real peace of mind, and the cost-to-value ratio for the district is exceptional. Ensuring our employees feel supported and protected is a priority for us, and Courtside proved to be the right partner to help us accomplish that,” said Lippe. “Working with Kurt Schulze and Courtside has been an extremely positive experience. Kurt provides exceptional customer service, is honest and transparent, and consistently checks in to ensure our needs are being met. Beyond the professional support, Courtside also gives back to Adair Schools by supporting our students in extracurricular activities, which reflects their genuine commitment to our community.”
