The ringtone for his cellphone is “Santeria,” a popular song by ‘90s reggae punk band Sublime. No newspaper sits in his office — instead, he finds all his news for the day online. One of his proudest accomplishments? Leading the implementation of hands-on 21st century programs in technical and scientific fields in the Olathe school district. He’s not the 30-something-year-old school administrator these facts paint him to be; rather, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of interim superintendent Dr. Ron Wimmer’s career in education.

When former superintendent Dr. Doug Sumner resigned in February, Wimmer was the first person suggested to become interim superintendent at a special Board of Education meeting. After acting as the district’s interim superintendent in 2009 when former superintendent Dr. Sharon Zoellner resigned and staying with the district until 2011, Wimmer couldn’t resist coming back to help the district a second time. The Board approved a contract with him not even a month after the initial suggestion of inviting him back as interim superintendent, and he began work in the last week of May.

“I told them I couldn’t say no if they asked me to come back because I really enjoyed my time here,” Wimmer said. “Having made that commitment before … I felt a sense of responsibility … If I could help stabilize [the district] and yet move the district forward, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Upon hearing Wimmer was interim superintendent, interim director of human resources Dr. Lowell Martinie came out of retirement for a third time to fill former director of human resources Lachelle Sigg’s open position.

“I came out here because I have a lot of respect for the staff that’s in this school district,” Martinie said. “But, I also came because I would have an opportunity to work again with Dr. Wimmer, and I have a lot of respect for his leadership abilities.”

Wimmer’s resume stretches much further back than being a two-time interim superintendent for the district, though. He began teaching in 1965, as a Spanish teacher in the Olathe district. He originally intended to attend night classes at the law school at the University of Missouri — Kansas City, with plans to become a lawyer.

“I actually enrolled at law school at UMKC,” Wimmer said. “But, I was encouraged to go to KU and get my master’s degree by my principal at the time and get into school administration. So, that’s what I did.”

Wimmer then progressed through administrative positions in the Olathe district, going from being an assistant principal and school principal, to working in human resources, to becoming an assistant superintendent and, eventually, superintendent — a position he would hold for 14 years, before retiring in 2005.

In his 40 years with the Olathe district, Wimmer had many accomplishments. He led the Olathe high schools in implementing hands-on specialty programs and distinguished scholars programs at each school, and allowing students to attend whichever Olathe high school offered their programs of choice. He acted as principal of an alternative school in the Olathe district for five years, working nights to offer classes to students who weren’t able to graduate in a traditional setting. He even won Kansas Superintendent of the Year and Olathe Citizen of the Year in 1997. Throughout all of this, he maintains humility.

“A person does not do anything by themselves,” Wimmer said. “I can stimulate programs and be supportive of them, but the accomplishment was dependent upon everybody else that I worked with and our working together. So, I don’t want to take individual credit for any of the things, but I would say it was shared credit.”

Now, Wimmer plans to use his experience and accomplishments once again in the district. He only plans to stay as interim superintendent for a year, but, in that time, he has specific goals to achieve.

“During that period of time, we will have a very well-oiled and highly-functioning Board of Education,” Wimmer said. “We will be able to have a very solid base for a new superintendent to come in and serve in the future that will be in place. We will have made commitments on the part of the Board for some new opportunities for students. And, we will be able to have some alternative programs for students who have those needs by the time I leave, or before.”

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Wimmer’s high expectations extend beyond his goals. Martinie has worked alongside Wimmer in administrative positions throughout his career in the Olathe district, and experienced Wimmer’s expectations firsthand when making presentations.

“He expects you to be prepared, because he’s going to ask you some questions when you get over there,” Martinie said. “But, the last question I usually hear is, “Now, tell me again how this is good for kids.” And that’s a good question.”

Wimmer acknowledges he won’t have much time to see his goals through, but he’s confident he’ll be able to accomplish them given the progress he’s already made this year.

“I feel that we’ve turned things around very quickly,” Wimmer said. “I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to do much more in a shorter time period, and put the district on a path to excellence, and build on the reputation that it already has. And students in the future will benefit from the things that we’re going to do yet during the time I’m here.”

To make changes in the district, Wimmer knows he’ll need help from staff and the Board, and he knows the effort will be continuous.

“This is a team situation, Wimmer said. “This is not what the superintendent does, or what the Board does, or the staff. We have to do this together and we have to continue to make progress in the school district as a team … It’s not anything that happens once or during one year.”

Wimmer shouldn’t have trouble working in a team, though, according to Martinie’s past experience working with him.

“He’s been a good friend, also during those years,” Martinie said. “He cares about people.”

In his year as interim superintendent, Wimmer looks forward to making a lasting change in the district — and already sees the district moving toward that change.

“It’s great to be in a position to come in and help people out and make a difference, and that’s what I want to do again,” Wimmer said. “I want things to be better when I leave than when I came, and I feel like we’re on the right track to do that.”