People Watch
School Administrator, June 2017


Matthew Akin
The new superintendent of Huntsville City Public Schools in Alabama is Matt Akin, who previously served since 2003 as the superintendent in Piedmont, Ala. Akin also worked in Piedmont district as a principal and coordinator of administrative services. He began his career as a computer science and math teacher in Alabama’s Anniston City School District and became that district’s technology coordinator and director of student services. He also is a vice chair of Alabama’s Every Student Succeeds Act Committee. A member of AASA’s Governing Board, Akin has been a member of the association since 2005.


Robert F. Gilbert
The Woodbridge, Conn., School District has a new superintendent with Bob Gilbert assuming the reins. He has served in various Connecticut districts. Since 2013, he worked in Granby Public Schools as director of teaching and talent development. Gilbert was an assistant principal in Woodstock, Conn., and subsequently spent 19 years as principal of the Kelly Lane Intermediate School in Granby. He started as a teacher in the Bolton and East Windsor schools. Gilbert joined AASA as a member in 2015.




Bill Heimann
The newly selected chief administrator of the Educational Service Unit 1 in Wakefield, Neb., is Bill Heimann, a lifelong Cornhusker. He has been superintendent of School District 145 in Waverly, Neb., since 2009. Heimann earlier worked as a principal and superintendent of Wakefield, Neb., Community Schools over a 10-year period. He began as a social studies teacher and coach in Randolph, Neb. For several years, Heimann has been an adjunct faculty member at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. He completed his doctorate at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. He has been a member of AASA since 2007.


Timothy Purnell
Timothy Purnell is departing the superintendency of the Somerville, N.J., Public Schools to become executive director of the American Montessori Society in New York City in August. Purnell, who was named New Jersey Superintendent of the Year in 2016, has served in the top post since 2011. He also serves on the New Jersey State Board of Examiners. He is an adjunct professor at Montclair State, Farleigh Dickinson and Georgian Court universities. Earlier in this career, he served as a principal, vice principal and science teacher. Holder of an Ed.D. from Seton Hall University, Purnell joined AASA in 2008.


Corey Tafoya
Corey Tafoya is now superintendent of Illinois’ Harvard Community Unit School District 50. He had been assistant superintendent of Crystal Lake, Ill., Community High School District 155, where he also served as a high school principal. Tafoya began his teaching career in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a high school Spanish teacher and coach before moving into school leadership. He earned his doctoral degree from University of Northern Iowa. Tafoya has been an AASA member since 2016.





David Versteeg
Mason City Community School District in Iowa has named David Versteeg its new superintendent. He is moving from the 580-student, Montezuma, Iowa, Community School District, where he held the top position since 2007. His career spans nearly 40 years in several states, beginning as a teacher in Parker, S.D., in 1980., Versteeg moved into the administrative ranks as an assistant principal and athletic director in Wyoming’s Weston County School District and subsequently a middle school principal in Iowa’s Pella Community Schools for eight years. Versteeg has been an AASA member since 2007.



RETIREMENTS
Catherine Ash, superintendent, Okemos, Mich.
Mary Baier, superintendent, Plum City, Wis.
Ron Bolinger, superintendent, American Falls, Idaho
Amy Bryan, superintendent, Butler County School District, Greenville, Ala.
Suzan Cullen, superintendent, North Attleboro, Mass.
Deidre Drees, superintendent, Missouri Valley, Iowa
Suzanne Freeman, superintendent, Pike Road, Ala.
MaryEllen Gorodetzer, superintendent, Colonial School District, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Ralph E. Grimm, superintendent, Galesburg, Ill.
Mary Patricia Hanks, superintendent, Friendswood, Texas
Michael Harris, superintendent, Lyme and Rivendell Interstate school districts, N.H.
Merle Herndon, superintendent, Halifax County, Va.
Mark Hottowe, superintendent, Battle Ground, Wash.
Rick Kibbe, superintendent, Catoosa, Okla.
Thomas Malmstadt, superintendent, Random Lake, Wis.
Howard Mann, superintendent, Glynn County Schools, Brunswick, Ga.
Barbara Marin, superintendent, Hempfield Area School District, Greensburg, Pa.
Ben Martindale, superintendent, North Chicago, Ill.
Michael McClaren, superintendent, Claremore, Okla.
J. Tim Mills, superintendent, Bellevue, Wash.
Patrick Nelson, superintendent, Amphitheater Public Schools, Tucson, Ariz.
David L. Peterson, superintendent, Nampa, Idaho
Lynn Proctor, superintendent, Harrisburg, Mo.
Linda G. Reviea, superintendent, Staunton, Va.
William P. Sapelli, superintendent, Agawam School District, Feeding Hills, Mass.
Roy Seitsinger Jr., superintendent, Westerly, R.I.
Shawn Thornton, superintendent, Lincoln, Mich.
Jim Welker, superintendent, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Thomas L. Williams, superintendent, Kirkwood, Mo.



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