People Watch
School Administrator, January 2020
Wayne Barker
The School City of Mishawaka, Ind., has welcomed Wayne Barker as its new superintendent. Barker’s previous superintendent post spanned 10 years at Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District in Bluffton, Ind., where he also served 14 years as an assistant principal of the high school. As head coach of the boys’ basketball team over the same period, Barker compiled a 236-107 won-loss record. He began his career in education as a business teacher in Fort Wayne, Ind., before taking a similar role in Muncie, Ind. Barker became a member of AASA in 2009.




Adam Fineske
After spending his entire education career in Sylvania, Ohio, Adam Fineske is the new superintendent of Ohio’s Ottawa Hills Local Schools. Fineske joined Sylvania as an elementary teacher, then served as district intervention specialist, assistant principal and principal. He moved to the district office as executive director of curriculum and assessment and served as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in 2016, a year before being named superintendent. Fineske earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Concordia University. He joined AASA in 2019.




Susan M. Hayward
Susan Hayward is the new superintendent at Fredericktown, Ohio, Local Schools. Hayward previously served as superintendent in Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio. She spent most of her administrative career in Beavercreek, Ohio, City Schools, where she was district curriculum administrator, director of curriculum and assistant superintendent during a span of 12 years. She began her career as a teacher in Jamestown, Ohio. Hayward earned her Ph.D. in reading from Ohio State University. She has been a member of AASA since 2016.

 


Matt Massey
The first president of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering is Matt Massey, who comes to the new magnet school in Huntsville, Ala., after almost five years as superintendent of Madison County Schools in Huntsville. Massey was previously a math teacher at Buckhorn High School in the Madison district and Clarke County High School in Grove Hill, Ala. A member of the School Superintendents of Alabama board of directors, Massey has served on state committees addressing math education and the teacher shortage. He joined AASA in 2015.

 


Joan V. Mast
After spending 18 years in the district, Joan Mast has been named superintendent of New Jersey’s Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools. Mast’s tenure there began in 2001 when she was named district mathematics supervisor. Later, she became assistant superintendent. She previously taught math and computer science in Watchung, N.J., and Rumson, N.J., and served as curriculum supervisor in Millburn, N.J., and Flanders, N.J. Mast earned her doctorate in mathematics education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She became a member of AASA in 2010.




Jo Ann Matthews
The first female and first African American superintendent of Lafourche Parish School District in Thibodaux, La., Jo Ann Matthews is now a regional liaison with the Louisiana Department of Education. Matthews joins the state agency after 30 years of service to Lafourche, where she served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, human resources supervisor, interim superintendent and most recently, superintendent. She held the top post for 13 years before her retirement. Matthews earned her Ed.D. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She joined AASA in 2006.





APPOINTMENTS
David C. Bills, from superintendent, Honeoye, N.Y., to superintendent, West Genesee Central School District, Camillus, N.Y.
Jared Bloom, from assistant superintendent, South Huntington Union Free School District, Huntington Station, N.Y., to superintendent, Franklin Square, N.Y.
Timothy Bohlke, from interim assistant superintendent, Liberty, N.Y., to superintendent, Tuxedo, N.Y.
Robin Fillman, from superintendent, Brookville, Pa., to instructional innovations specialist, Riverview Intermediate Unit 6, Clarion, Pa.
Robert Kobylski, from superintendent, Nicolet High School, Glendale, Wis., and Fox Point-Bayside School District, Fox Point, Wis., to superintendent, Davenport, Iowa
Erich May, from superintendent, Morgan County School District, Berkeley Springs, W.Va., to superintendent, Brookville, Pa.
Kevin Miller, from superintendent, Ottawa Hills, Ohio, to director of governmental relations, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Columbus, Ohio
Jon Mishra, from superintendent, Waitsburg, Wash., to director, Title I, Part A and Learning Assistance Program, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Olympia, Wash.
Tom Moore, from assistant superintendent to superintendent, Great Falls, Mont.
Scott R. Muri, from superintendent, Spring Branch Independent School District, Houston, Texas, to superintendent, Ector County Independent School District, Odessa, Texas
Howard J. Thiery III, from superintendent, Regional School District 17, Higganum, Conn., to superintendent, Regional School District 10, Burlington, Conn.
Sandra Yager, from superintendent, Hockinson School District, Brush Prairie, Wash., to superintendent, Cornerstone Christian Academy, Vancouver, Wash.


RETIREMENTS
Yvonne Caamal Canul, superintendent, Lansing, Mich.
Mary Beth Denny, superintendent, South Jefferson Central School District, Adams, N.Y.
Suzanne McLeod, superintendent, Union-Endicott Central School District, Endicott, N.Y.
Shannon Stanley, superintendent, Boaz, Ala.
Judy Swigart, superintendent, Latrobe, Pa.


HONOR
Nettie Collins-Hart, superintendent, Hazelwood School District, Florissant, Mo., named 2019 Superintendent of the Year by National Association of School Superintendents

 

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