People Watch
School Administrator, November 2020


Thomas G. Farrell

Thomas Farrell joined the 8,500-student Brick Township Public Schools in Brick, N.J., as superintendent. Previously, he was a shared regional superintendent in West Long Branch, N.J., and Oceanport, N.J. Before becoming a superintendent, Farrell worked in the Plumsted Township district in New Egypt, N.J., for 11 years, serving as a high school principal, director of technology and communication and head football coach. He also has been an adjunct professor of business at Ocean County College in Toms River, N.J. An AASA member since 2013, Farrell received his doctorate in education leadership from Monmouth University.
 

 

Shawn Joseph

Howard University has appointed Shawn Joseph as assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies and co-director of the Urban Superintendents Academy, a joint venture with AASA. Over the past decade, Joseph served as superintendent for three years in Nashville, Tenn., and two years in Seaford, Del., as well as deputy superintendent in Prince George’s County, Md., and director of school performance in Montgomery County, Md. An AASA member since 2012, Joseph holds an Ed.D. from George Washington University.
 



Monica Kelsey-Brown

The School District of Brown Deer in Wisconsin welcomed Monica Kelsey-Brown as its new superintendent. She served the district for the past five years as assistant superintendent and director of teaching and learning. Kelsey-Brown previously worked as the student achievement supervisor in Milwaukee Public Schools for five years and as an elementary school teacher in the same district. She holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A member of AASA since 2018, she is a graduate of the association’s 2019 Urban Superintendents Academy cohort.
 



Betsy Webb

Betsy Webb has accepted a position as a professor of educational leadership at the University of Maine. She previously served as superintendent in Bangor, Maine, since 2008, during which time she was honored as 2013 Maine Superintendent of the Year. She worked as assistant superintendent in Bangor and four years as superintendent in Brewer, Maine. A member of AASA since 2007 and former member of the AASA Governing Board, Webb received her Ed.D. from the University of Maine.
 



SIDELIGHT

Don Sturz, a lifelong educator, exhibits the same fine qualities as those he often evaluates — not students but various dog breeds. Sturz, 59, a superintendent in Valley Stream, N.Y., District 24 since 2018, has served as one of the nation’s most recognized judges of dog competitions for nearly 30 years. His avocation has taken him worldwide, including 10 stints at the Westminster Kennel Club Show.

Over the last three years, Sturz has worked as an on-air commentator for the live coverage of Westminster on Fox Sports. But the superintendency’s demands are forcing him to cut back on his lifelong love. Still, he plans to enter his puppy Lola, a bull terrier, at future shows. Participating in dog shows since age 8, Sturz says, has given him “a sensitivity to the need for children to have adults in their lives who nurture what makes each of them special.”
 





APPOINTMENTS
 
David Baugh, from superintendent, Centennial School District, Warminster, Pa., to superintendent, Aspen, Colo.
Justin Blasko, from assistant superintendent to superintendent, Monroe, Wash.
Matt Charlton, from superintendent, Manson, Wash., to executive director of secondary education, Eastmont School District, East Wenatchee, Wash.
Tana Daugherty, from interim superintendent to superintendent, Cloudcroft, N.M.
Penelope DeLeon, from superintendent, Oxnard, Calif., to superintendent, Glendora, Calif.
Eric Fredrickson, from superintendent, Grass Valley, Calif., to superintendent, Sylvan Union School District, Modesto, Calif.
Jeff James, from superintendent, Stanly County Schools, Albemarle, N.C., to superintendent, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Statesville, N.C.
Ron Lorenz, from assistant superintendent, Indianola, Iowa, to superintendent, Red Oak, Iowa
John Magas, from associate superintendent, Green Bay, Wis., to superintendent, Duluth, Minn.
Robert McDowell, from assistant superintendent, Stillwater, Minn., to superintendent, Hastings, Minn.
Kimberly I. Minor, from chief organization officer, Upper Dublin School District, Maple Glen, Pa., to superintendent, Exeter School District, Reading, Pa.
Sara Paul, from assistant superintendent, White Bear Lake, Minn., to superintendent, North Branch, Minn.
Tom Scarice, from superintendent, Madison, Conn., to superintendent, Westport, Conn.
Dee-Etta Wright, from interim superintendent to superintendent, School City of East Chicago, Crown Point, Ind.
 

RETIREMENTS

Steven Adamowski, superintendent, Norwalk, Conn.
Chuck Bell, superintendent, Elbert County Schools, Elberton, Ga.
James Briscoe, superintendent, Canyons School District, Sandy, Utah
Kerry Buhler, superintendent, Summit School District, Frisco, Colo.
Lorna Lewis, superintendent, Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District, Plainview, N.Y.
Joseph Phelan, superintendent, Rhinebeck, N.Y.
Rick Schulte, superintendent, Richland, Wash.
Bernard Stellar, superintendent, Mount Carmel, Pa.
Diane Woodworth, superintendent, Goshen, Ind.

 
DEATH

Aaron Kaufman, 47, superintendent, West Holmes, Ohio, July 10
Ed Richardson, 52, superintendent, Pelican Rapids, Minn., April 9
 

 
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. Email: magazine@aasa.org