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Just days before his retirement, Yukon Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Simeroth traded his office chair for the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
On Friday, June 27, Simeroth was hand-picked by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime flight as part of the Thunderbirds Hometown Hero program—an initiative that honors extraordinary individuals who positively impact their communities.
With a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years, Dr. Simeroth has been a transformative figure in public education. Since taking the helm as Superintendent of Yukon Public Schools in May 2014, he has led one of Oklahoma’s largest school districts—now the 14th largest school district in the state—through a decade of exceptional growth and innovation.
“Dr. Simeroth exemplifies the very spirit of warrior ethos – selfless service, dedication to excellence, and an unwavering commitment to shaping the next generation,” said Col. Cisco Harris, installation commander of Tinker Air Force Base. “Just as Tinker invests in developing resilient Airmen, Simeroth has spent his career developing future leaders through education.”
Under his leadership, Yukon Public Schools expanded to serve more than 9,100 students across a 68-square-mile district, offering education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Yukon High School, one of the state’s flagship public high schools, is currently the 7th largest in Oklahoma, with an enrollment exceeding 2,600 students.
For over 15 years, he has built a life centered on education, volunteerism, and servant leadership. As an educator, mentor, and community leader, Dr. Simeroth has dedicated thousands of hours to initiatives that uplift students, families, and the broader Oklahoma community.
“People often ask how I even got started and it’s all because I just really wanted to help kids,” Simeroth said. “It’s a caring, loving, supporting environment in public education and you can’t help but want to do more for others.”
He served on the Yukon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 11 years, including time as President, helping lead community events and economic development.
During the high-speed flight over Oklahoma, Simeroth experienced the full force of air power, pulling 9.1 G’s. He officially retired from the district on Monday, June 30.
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2025 09:39 |
| Story ID: | 543254 |
| Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soaring into Retirement: Superintendent Honored with Thunderbird Flight, by Courtney Landsberger, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
