Rick Doll has been selected as the new superintendent of the Lawrence public schools. Doll, seen Wednesday, will start his new job in July.

Rick Doll will be the sixth superintendent to lead the consolidated Lawrence public school district.

Doll, 55, presently is in his fourth year as superintendent in Louisburg in Miami County, just south of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The district serves about 2,000 students.

“I was attracted to the Lawrence public schools because of the tradition of high academic standards and the focus of the district on individual students,” Doll said. “I’m thrilled to be here.”

Doll is a 35-year veteran educator and school administrator, having served as an associate professor at Kansas State University, an assistant superintendent, a high school principal and a history and political science teacher.

He signed a two-year contract for $156,000 a year.

Before becoming the lead administrator in Louisburg, he was the superintendent in Rock Creek school district in Westmoreland, about an hour north of Manhattan.

School board president Craig Grant said Doll is the best possible candidate to lead Lawrence public schools.

“Dr. Doll is an effective instructional leader with proven skills in planning, budgeting, team building, curriculum, staff development and program evaluation,” Grant said.

During Doll’s time in Louisburg, the elementary school won the Governor’s Achievement Award for reading and math assessment performance. The community also approved a $30 million school bond issue in 2006 that financed a new elementary school, a district stadium and improvements to existing school facilities.

Three advisory committees — made up of teachers, classified staff and principals — interviewed candidates as part of the superintendent selection process.

“We thought Dr. Doll seemed down-to-earth, approachable and appreciative of the role of classified staff,” said Rusty Tournade, the lead buildings and groundskeeper for Lawrence High.

West Junior High Principal Myron Melton was impressed with Doll’s knowledge of curriculum and instruction.

“He has a clear vision of what it takes to provide a successful educational program for students,” Melton said.

Doll earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at McPherson College. He received a master’s and doctorate in educational administration at Kansas State University.

Doll will take over Lawrence public schools in July when Superintendent Randy Weseman retires.