Shawnee County’s highest paid superintendent makes $248,000

Topeka has the sixth largest school district in Kansas and the highest paid principal in Shawnee County.

Topeka Public Schools superintendent Tiffany Anderson is the highest paid superintendent of the county’s five school districts. She is one of the highest paid in the state, with a salary of $248,000.

“It is a tremendous privilege to serve as superintendent of the seventh largest district in Kansas, responsible for a budget of over $260 million, to ensure we are best serving the most vulnerable members of our community. We provide leadership to ensure we are delivering essential services including, but not limited to: offering the only dual-language program for preschool through 12th graders in the state, ensuring our comprehensive high schools with over 1,000 students have the resources to ensure over 90% of their students graduate and go on to college or careers, and supporting families in early childhood through the expansion of preschool in nearly every elementary school. These are just some of the many services we provide to our community,” Anderson said in a written statement.

“I continue to be grateful to work for a community and school board that values investing in the diverse resources that help families in Topeka.”

Below you will find the school principal salaries for each school district in Shawnee County.

Topeka Public Schools USD 501

Tiffany Anderson began serving as superintendent for Topeka USD 501 in 2016, after serving as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent for other districts earlier in her career. She recently published a research book on equity in education, “Building Parent Capacity in High Poverty Schools: Actions for Authentic Impact.”

Topeka Public Schools is the largest district with 15 elementary schools, six middle schools and three high schools. The district also includes College Prep Academy, Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers, Topeka Virtual and alternative schools such as Hope Street, Avondale and Capital City.

Anderson’s salary is comparable to that of top district principals, according to Aarion Gray, executive director of educational services.

“The district serves more than 2,000 staff members and over 12,000 students in Magnet, Signature and STEAM schools, which is more racially and socioeconomically diverse schools and students than all other school districts in the county combined,” Gray said in a written statement. “Topeka Public Schools strives to remain competitive, as the district has offered the highest starting teacher salaries in the county.”

Silver Lake USD 372

Brad Womack began his career in education in 1996, teaching math at USD 454 Burlingame for two years and USD 437 Auburn-Washburn for one year. He then taught high school math in Silver Lake from 1999-2009, transitioning from teacher to assistant principal/athletic director for one year before taking on the role of principal at Silver Lake Jr/Sr High School in 2010 until 2021.

In 2021, he was appointed superintendent.

He was paid $134,550 for the 2023-24 school year, said district Treasurer Debbie Walburn, making him the lowest-paid superintendent in the county.

Silver Lake USD 372 has three schools under its responsibility: an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.

Shawnee Heights USD 450

Sheila Meggers, superintendent of Shawnee Heights with a budget of $450, was hired in February and began work in early July.

She is the newest superintendent in Shawnee County. Before taking this position, she served as assistant financial superintendent for USD 308, in addition to her work as principal of Garden Plain Elementary School in Renwick USD 267 in Sedgwick County.

Her annual salary will be $190,000, said Sara Darting, director of business and finance and school board clerk.

Shawnee Heights has six schools in its district.

Auburn-Washburn USD 437

Scott McWilliams served as superintendent of Auburn-Washburn USD 437 for nine years. Prior to that, he served as executive director of human resources for the Blue Valley School District for 11 years.

McWilliams’ annual salary is $235,000, said communications director Jessica Roberts. He is the second-highest-paid superintendent in the county.

Auburn-Washburn has 11 schools in the district.

Seaman USD 345

Bradley Willson has served as superintendent of Seaman USD 345 since 2022. Prior to accepting the position of superintendent of Seaman USD 345, he served as assistant superintendent at Spring Hill USD 230 for seven years and before that as director of human resources for the same district.

Willson’s salary is $182,000, according to communications director Candace LeDuc.

Seaman USD 345 has nine schools under its jurisdiction.