The man picked to be Enid’s next superintendent has been dubbed by former co-workers and friends as a financial genius with a good working knowledge of the inner functions of the education world.

Shawn Hime, 36, currently assistant superintendent for financial services at Oklahoma Department of Educa-tion, will be-come Enid’s 12th superintendent if Enid Board of Education approves a contract with him at its March 24 meeting.

Before taking the post with Oklahoma Department of Education, Hime was assistant superintendent for finance and operations from 2002-04 at Ardmore Public Schools.

According to news stories from the Daily Ardmoreite, Hime saw the district through some difficult financial situations. He was the point man for the district in dealing with budget cuts and bond issues for the district.

Hime prepared the district’s budget, managed all capital improvements projects and managed the business, operations, transportation, technology and child nutrition departments.

Advance Food Co. Vice President Brian Hayden, who served on the special committee to find Enid’s new superintendent, said committee members and the school board issued a community survey asking residents what they believed was most needed for Enid Public Schools. The responses they received fit perfectly with Hime’s experience.

“Two things that stood out in the survey people felt were needed were vision and strategic planning and facilities maintenance,” Hayden said. “He essentially has been described by people as a financial whiz. He really understands public school finance, and we felt like that experience could go a long way in helping Enid Public Schools in the financial area.”

Hime said he thinks Enid is a good place to raise his children. The father of three has children in kindergarten, fourth grade and seventh grade, and his wife is a school counselor.

He said he is pleased with Enid’s selection process.

“I think it was an excellent process to have the school board members and community members involved,” Hime said. “It is very important to have an active community involved in public school issues.”

Once the board makes his hiring official, Hime won’t officially take office until July 1. He is hoping to work with outgoing Superintendent Kem Keithly, teachers and school administrators to make the transition as easy as possible.

Keithly announced in December he is retiring at the end of the school year after 24 years as Enid superintendent.

“My plans are just to get to know the district and work collaboratively with teachers, school board members and school administrators for a teamwork approach to any issues,” Hime said.

Hayden said he believes the school district has found the right man for the job, but it could not have been done without the hard work and dedication of school board members.

“I really want to acknowledge and recognize the Enid school board members,” Hay-den said. “They just did a fabulous job, and the outcome of their selection is going to be a great superintendent for Enid.”

School board members voted Tuesday to go into contract negotiations with Hime following his visit to Enid. He was one of two finalists for the position. On Tuesday, the board would not release the identity of either finalist, citing confidentiality and privacy.

The board released information about Hime late Friday after the News & Eagle learned his identity as the leading candidate.

Hime currently is living in Norman and is working to earn a doctorate from the Univer-sity of Oklahoma. He earned a master of education de-gree and bachelor of science in education from East Central University. He holds state certification in the areas of superintendent, secondary principal, elementary principal and secondary mathematics.

Hime came to Ardmore in 1995 as a physical education teacher and assistant football coach. He moved to the high school where he taught math. He briefly left the district and went to work for Department of Education as director of student assessment, research and planning. He came back to Ardmore in 2000 as high school assistant principal and later the athletic director.

Hime began his career as a math instructor and football coach for Lexington Public Schools before moving to Ardmore.

Since 2004, he has served as the Department of Educa-tion assistant superintendent with responsibilities including management of state aid, financial accounting, school personnel records, transportation, transfers and capital improvement departments. In addition, he has collaborated with legislators on pending legislation and its impact on public schools.