People Watch
School Administrator, February 2019
Jennifer P. Byars
After four years as assistant superintendent in the 2,500-student Ledyard, Conn., Public Schools, Jennifer Byars has moved into the superintendency of Amity Regional School District 5 in Woodbridge, Conn. Byars previously worked as a principal of two elementary schools — in Deep River and Ledyard, Conn. — over a half dozen years. Her career began in Virginia, where she spent seven years as a high school science teacher and varsity sports coach in Fishersville, Va. An AASA member since 2014, Byars earned an Ed.D. in administration and supervision from University of Virginia.


 

Paul E. Hertel
Paul Hertel has been named superintendent of Community Consolidated Elementary School District 62 in Des Plaines, Ill. Hertel joined the district in 2006 as director of human resources. He became assistant superintendent in 2007 and two years later associate superintendent. Prior to joining District 62, Hertel served 19 years in School District U-46 in Elgin, Ill., as a teacher and administrator. He earned a doctorate from Western Illinois University and joined AASA in 2018.




Amy J. Vesperman
The new superintendent, special education director and curriculum coordinator of Plum City, Wis., School District is Amy Vesperman. She comes to Plum City from the superintendency in Albany, Wis., School District. Vesperman previously was director of cur-riculum and instruction in Wisconsin Heights School District in Mazomanie, Wis., assistant principal in Delavan, Wis., and dean of students in Germantown, Wis. She has extensive teaching experience throughout the state, including a decade in Fall River. Vesperman has been a member of AASA since 2017.

 


Anitra D. Wells
Lexington, N.C., City Schools has a new superintendent in Anitra Wells, who spent the past three years as superintendent in Weldon, N.C. Wells also acted as regional executive director and principal in Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C. Earlier, she was coordinator of human resources in Norfolk, Va. Wells earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She joined AASA in 2017.

 




SIDELIGHT
When you’re the superintendent of a suburban Chicago school district with 1,700 students and the father of six, you work hard to find downtime. That’s why Paul McDermott, who runs the Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142, finds it best to get up early on weekends to sculpt bottles, vases, bowls and jars out of clay in his home workshop. The former art teacher has been shaping clay for more than 30 years after being influenced by a high school teacher of his own. Ever since, the pottery wheel has connected McDermott (an AASA member since 2002) to his career, helped him bond with his kids and, most importantly, allowed him to decompress. “Making things is a good outlet for me and helps me get my mind right because being a superintendent can be a little stressful,” he says. He uses many of the sculptures as gifts.









APPOINTMENTS
Jeanette Ball, from superintendent, Uvalde, Texas, to superintendent, Judson Independent School District, Live Oak, Texas
Justin Barnes, from superintendent, Cascade, Mont., to superintendent, Anaconda, Mont.
John Chapman, from superintendent, Ennis, Texas, to superintendent, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, Carrollton, Texas
Mark Estrada, from assistant superintendent to superintendent, Lockhart, Texas
Jeffrey Fecher, from assistant superintendent to superintendent, Abington, Pa.
Brian Hartwell, from superintendent, Pulaski, N.Y., to superintendent, Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, Auburn, N.Y.
Jerry Hollingsworth, from associate superintendent of educational operations, Burleson, Texas, to superintendent, Bandera, Texas
Richard J. Hughes, from superintendent, Central Valley Academy School District, Ilion, N.Y., to superintendent, Frontier Central School District, Hamburg, N.Y.
Larry Knapp, from acting superintendent to superintendent, Hamilton, Ohio
Jason Misner, from principal to superintendent, Parchment, Mich.
Joseph Morgan, from superintendent, Spencer-Van Etten Central School District, Spencer, N.Y., to superintendent, Rondout Valley Central School District, Accord, N.Y.
Gary Peiffer, from superintendent, Carlynton School District, Carnegie, Pa., to superintendent, Greensburg Salem School District, Greensburg, Pa.
Shannon Shine, from superintendent, Galway, N.Y., to superintendent, Mohonasen Central School District, Schenectady, N.Y.
Cade Smith, from executive director of campus leadership and operations, Georgetown, Texas, to superintendent, Brock Independent School District, Brock, Texas
Lawrence “Bo” Wright, from deputy superintendent, Rochester, N.Y., to superintendent, Rush-Henrietta Central Schools, Henrietta, N.Y.
 
 
DEATHS
Glenn Gelbrich, 65, retired superintendent, Kelso, Wash., Dec. 1
Donald W. Ingwerson, 85, retired superintendent, Jefferson County, Ky., and 1992 AASA Superintendent of the Year, Nov. 4
William E. “Bill” Josten, 82, retired superintendent, West Bend, Wis., Sept. 16
Gale P. Ryczek, 70, retired superintendent, Bristol, Wis., Aug. 30

 
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