People Watch
School Administrator, February 2017


Scott Bloomquist
After three years as superintendent in Winnebago, Ill., Scott Bloomquist joins the Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education in Loves Park, Ill., as a legislative liaison. Previously, Bloomquist was principal of Iroquois West Upper Elementary School in Thawville, Ill., assistant principal and athletic director at Bradley Central Middle School in Bradley, Ill., and dean of students at multiple schools in Ashkum, Ill. He began his education career as a special education teacher in Tampa, Fla. Bloomquist has been an AASA member since 2013.



Douglas D. Hayter
The Missouri Association of School Administrators has a new executive director in Doug Hayter, who previously was the organization’s associate executive director for leader development. Earlier, Hayter was superintendent in Branson, Mo., for 12 years and superintendent and assistant superintendent in the Logan-Rogersville Schools in Rogersville, Mo. He served the latter system as a middle school science teacher before filling a principalship in Sparta, Mo. Hayter, an AASA member since 1999 and former Governing Board member, earned his Ed.D. at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.



Toni Jones
Fairfield, Conn., Public Schools welcomes Toni Jones as its new superintendent. Jones has been superintendent in Falls Church, Va., for five years and served as chief academic officer and other posts in the Deer Creek Public Schools in Edmond, Okla., for 13 years. She began her education career as a teacher in Reno, Nev., and subsequently served as a principal in Sydney, Australia. A member of AASA since 2011, she earned her Ed.D. in school administration and leadership from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.



Kevin R. West
Longtime New Jersey educator Kevin West has taken the helm in Orange, N.J. Previously, West was superintendent and assistant superintendent in Roselle, N.J. He also spent five years in his native Newark as interim high school principal, acting superintendent, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent of special education. West began his career as a classroom teacher in Irvington, N.J., where he later became a principal. West holds an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He has been an AASA member since 2008.





SIDELIGHT
After sustaining multiple soccer injuries in his youth, Todd Gazda didn’t think he’d ever run again. But seven years ago, the Ludlow, Mass., superintendent (and AASA member since 2013) saw contestants on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” running long distances and thought “if they can do it, I can too.” A longtime swimmer and cyclist, Gazda added running to his routine and now has competed in three Half Ironman triathlons (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run) for which his personal best time is six hours and 15 minutes. “It basically comes down to the fact that I’m just too stubborn to quit,” jests Gazda, 46, who hopes to complete a full Ironman in 2018. “As superintendents, we have very stressful jobs. If we’re going to do it for a long period of time, we have to find healthy ways of dealing with the stress. When I push myself like this, everything disappears, and the world gets quiet.”




APPOINTMENTS

Donald Andrews, from superintendent, Cumberland County, Tenn., to superintendent, Jasper County School District, Ridgeland, S.C.
Mario D. Cardinale, from retirement to superintendent, Butler, N.J.
Mark Elworthy, from district administrator, Wisconsin Heights School District, Mazomanie, Wis., to superintendent, Whitewater, Wis.
Keith Fleming, from principal, Southland Middle and High School, Adams, Minn., to superintendent, United South Central, Wells, Minn.
Brenda Freeman, from superintendent, Galeton, Pa., to superintendent, Wellsboro, Pa.
Phil Harrison, from superintendent, Salt Fork CUSD 512, Sidell, Ill., to superintendent, Southwest Parke Community Schools, Montezuma, Ind.
Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, from deputy superintendent, Clarkstown Central School District, New City, N.Y., to superintendent, Brewster, N.Y.
Mark Kress, from principal, Hagerman High School to superintendent, Hagerman, Idaho
Jeffrey R. Peterson, from superintendent, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, Northampton, Mass., to principal director, William J. Dean Technical High School, Holyoke, Mass.
Vickie Reed, from superintendent Murray County, Ga., to superintendent, Brooks County Schools, Quitman, Ga.
Robert Sattler, from principal, Oakley Elementary School, Oakley, Kan., to superintendent, Hitchcock County School, Trenton, Neb.

RETIREMENTS
Gary Rutherford, superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District, La Quinta, Calif.
Dennis Tobin, superintendent, Sparta, N.J.
C. Douglas Whelan, superintendent, Starpoint Central School District, Lockport, N.Y.
Rob Winter, superintendent, Grand Island, Neb.

DEATHS
Lee E. Christiansen, 80, retired superintendent, Washington County Education Service District, Hillsboro, Ore., Sept. 9
Daniel Gadra, 78, retired superintendent, Frederick County, Md., Oct. 28
Luis San Nicolas Reyes, 73, former superintendent, Guam Department of Education, Barrigada, Guam, Oct. 28
Bradley Guy Roberts, 58, superintendent, Bald Knob, Ark., Nov. 13


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