People Watch

School Administrator, December 2017


Matthew Alexander Jr.

The Barbour County School District in Clayton, Ala., named Matthew Alexander Jr. as superintendent. Alexander arrived from Birmingham City Schools, where he was chief operating officer. He spent 11 years in Montgomery, Ala., as a teacher, assistant principal, director of professional learning and educational specialist and served in Stone Mountain, Ga., as federal programs director. An AASA member since 2013, Alexander earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership, policy and technology studies in higher education administration from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
 

 

John Asplund

In his 15th year as a superintendent, John Asplund has accepted the top job at Galesburg, Ill., Community Unit School District 205. He previously was superintendent in three other Illinois school systems: Farmington Central School District 265, Lake Bluff Ele-mentary School District 65 and Villa Grove Community Unit School District 302. Asplund was named one of Education Week’s Leaders to Learn From in 2016. He joined AASA in 2002 and earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership and finance from Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.
 



Steven W. Bailey
The new executive director of the Maine School Management Association is Steve Bailey, who comes to the organization after six years as superintendent of the Central Lincoln County Schools in Damariscotta, Maine. He was named Maine Superintendent of the Year in 2015 and served as president of the Maine School Superintendents’ Association in 2016-17. Bailey also was assistant superintendent in South Portland, Maine, during a 45-year career in public education. He has held AASA membership since 2011.
 

 

Walter Gonsoulin Jr.
The new deputy superintendent of Jefferson County School District in Birmingham, Ala., is Walter Gonsoulin Jr., who previously worked as superintendent in Fairfield, Ala., for five years. In earlier postings, Gonsoulin was an assistant superintendent in Starkville, Miss., and a principal in St. Martinville, La. He began his education career as an elementary school teacher in Louisiana and has taught at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Gonsoulin earned his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at Mississippi State University. He has been an AASA member since 2012.
 
 

Patrick Harrigan
Patrick Harrigan is the new superintendent at the Half Hollow Hills Central School District in Dix Hills, N.Y. Harrigan has worked in Half Hollow Hills since 2005, serving as assistant superintendent. Previously, he was director of special education in Farmingdale, N.Y., principal of the Maryhaven School in Port Jefferson, N.Y., and assistant principal at North Country Middle School in Miller Place, N.Y. Harrigan earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership and technology from Dowling College in Long Island, N.Y. He has held membership in AASA since 2016.




Daniel Swartos
After five years as superintendent of McCook Central School District in Salem, S.D., Dan Swartos is the new executive director at the South Dakota High School Activities Association. Swartos previously was superintendent of Big Stone City Schools in Big Stone City, S.D., and a special education teacher in Brookings, S.D. An active member of the South Dakota Army National Guard for 17 years, Swartos earned his Ed.D. at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He joined AASA in 2010.






APPOINTMENTS
Lyle Ailshie, from superintendent, Kingsport, Tenn., to deputy commissioner of education, Tennessee Department of Education
Shelley Arrott, from executive director of human resources to superintendent, Ponca City, Okla.
Stephen “Michael” Douglas, from superintendent, Oneonta, N.Y., to superintendent, Decatur, Ala.
John Farrelly, from superintendent, Edgecombe County, N.C., to superintendent, Dare County, N.C.
Kimberly Gruccio, from assistant superintendent to superintendent, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Jeff Hyatt, from superintendent, Sparta, Mo., to superintendent, Gainesville R-5 School District, Gainesville, Mo.
Kevin J. Nohelty, from chief school business official to superintendent, Dolton-Riverdale School District 148, Riverdale, Ill.
Judith Paolucci, from superintendent, Leicester, Mass., to superintendent, Smithfield, R.I.
Stewart Pratt, from assistant superintendent, Willard, Mo., to superintendent, Harrison, Ark.
Curt L. Tryggestad, from superintendent, Eden Prairie, Minn., to executive director, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Golden Valley, Minn.
Julia Vicente, from superintendent, Wyomissing, Pa., to superintendent, Eastern Lebanon County School District, Myerstown, Pa.
Henry Webb, from superintendent, Floyd County, Ky., to superintendent, Kenton County, Ky.
 
HONORS
Rosa Atkins, superintendent, Charlottesville, Va., appointed to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Arturo J. Cavazos, superintendent, Harlingen, Texas, appointed to Texas State Board for Educator Certification

DEATHS
Bill Burns, 70, retired superintendent, Geneva County, Ala., April 30
Matthew Dotson, 46, superintendent, Moorefield, W.Va., Sept. 6
Mark S. Heyerdahl, 66, retired superintendent, LaValle, Wis., May 28
Susan Martin, 63, retired superintendent, Scituate, Mass., Sept. 5
Robert E. “Bob” Rogers, 76, retired superintendent, Mehlville, Mo., Sept. 1


 
News about AASA members’ promotions, retirements, honors and deaths should be addressed to: Editor, School Administrator, 1615 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Fax: 703-841-1543. E-mail: magazine@aasa.org