By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

He grew up in north-central Kansas but went to college in Dodge City and worked as a high school principal in Elkhart.

Western Kansas can seem a long way from anywhere for someone unfamiliar with the vast open space.

But when the plains came calling once again, Steven Taylor answered, "Yes."

Taylor, 51, last week was named the new superintendent for Ellis USD 388. He comes to Ellis from Clay Center, a city of 4,500 nestled in the Flint Hills of Kansas about a half hour west of Manhattan, where he served as principal the past three years.

Taylor replaces Kyle Hayden, who resigned in early June to take an assistant superintendent's job in Tonganoxie in eastern Kansas.

Hayden, who worked as principal and/or superintendent for three years in Ellis, moved to the Kansas City area to be nearer to doctors for his 4-year-old son, Gage, who was diagnosed with leukemia this spring.

The Ellis school board began a search for another superintendent on a "fast-track" search through the Kansas Association of School Boards. And Taylor rose to the top of the list of 10 applicants.

"We were very fortunate to be able to secure Mr. Taylor's services so quickly," said Marty Hollern, president of the Board of Education for USD 388. "His hiring will let us focus on maintaining all the programs of the district at the level that was set by the previous administrators."

Taylor comes in as Ellis' fourth superintendent in as many years.

Superintendent Lyndell Barton died in a tractor accident in June 2005, and Bernie White was hired as an interim for a year.

After White fell ill midway through the 2005-06 school year, Hayden -- in his first year as principal in Ellis, or anywhere for that matter -- also took on responsibilities of superintendent for a few months.

The board appointed him superintendent for the next year, and Hayden served in that capacity for two years.

The district flourished under Hayden.

Ellis consistently scored high on state assessment tests and continued to make huge strides in the field of technology.

Last fall, Ellis began a one-to-one laptop initiative for students in grades nine through 12 in the district. The district also has enough laptops on carts for every student in grades four through eight.

Now, it's Taylor's turn for his first crack at superintendent after about 20 years as a classroom teacher and principal.

"It's been a goal of mine for about five years," he said of his next move up the ladder in the education field.

Taylor's wife, Carol, also has worked in several school systems along with her husband, and he said they both are looking forward to the move to Ellis.

"We both attended 1A schools, and we think it's a good fit for us," Taylor said of Ellis, whose high school is in Class 2A, the second smallest size classification.

Taylor grew up in Jewell, and his wife grew up in neighboring Republic County in Cuba.

"Ellis has a proven track record of success in academics and extracurricular activities," Taylor said, "and I am fortunate to become a part of that tradition."

The couple has two grown daughters, both who live in Emporia.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to become a part of the Ellis school district," Taylor said.

"And," he added, "my wife and I are looking forward to becoming a part of the Ellis community."