People Watch
School Administrator, February 2021



Justin M. Hefner

Justin Hefner is the new superintendent of Homewood City Schools in Homewood, Ala., after spending three years as the principal of Pelham Park Middle School in Pelham, Ala. Previously, he was the director of teaching and learning/academic officer in Pelham. Prior to moving to Pelham, Hefner served as a teacher, mentor and instructional coach at Homewood Middle School. An AASA member since 2020, he received his Ed.D. in education leadership from Samford University in Birmingham.



Nicole Kooiker

Nicole Kooiker is the new deputy superintendent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Prior to this appointment, she was the chief executive officer and superintendent in Ottumwa, Iowa, for four years. She previously filled the superintendency of the West Marshall Community School District in State Center, Iowa. Kooiker earlier served as a middle school principal in Southeast Polk Community School District. She launched her administrative career in the West Hancock School District. Kooiker has been a member of AASA since 2020.



Doug Ute

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has chosen Doug Ute as its new executive director. Previously, he was the superintendent in Newark, Ohio, for 11 years and at Elgin Local Schools in Marion, Ohio, for nine years. Ute started in 1988 as a basketball coach at Shenandoah High School in Sarahsville, Ohio, and became athletic director in the Buckeye Central Schools in New Washington, Ohio. He has served as secretary for OHSAA’s Central District Athletic Board since 2011. Ute joined AASA as a member in 2009.

SIDELIGHT

Susan Coleman, first-year superintendent of Golf School District in Morton Grove, Ill., began to wonder last spring what young children might be experiencing without the normalcy of in-person schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result is a new book Why is This School Year Different? with co-author Michelle Rappaport, a social worker and bilingual special education teacher. “We started talking about social stories, which is a social emotional practice that we use to help students understand social situations,” says Coleman, an AASA member since 2016. “Our goal was really to help be a resource … through literature, teaching them what school would look like, how to wear a mask.” They published the book, suitable for kindergarten through 5th grade, in August. Coleman now is considering whether this ought to be first in a series to help educate children on other difficult topics, such as racial equity and social justice.




APPOINTMENTS
Jacqueline A. Cardenas, from assistant superintendent of educational services, El Rancho Unified School District, Pico Rivera, Calif., to Keppel Union School District, Pearblossom, Calif.
Charles Foust, from superintendent Kansas City, Kan., to superintendent, New Hanover County Schools, Wilmington, N.C.
Diane Gullett, from deputy superintendent, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nev., to superintendent, Marion County School District, Ocala, Fla.
Jason Hewitt, from associate commissioner of governance, Texas Education Agency, Austin, Texas, to superintendent, Shepherd, Texas
Frank Jankowski, from assistant superintendent to superintendent, Selinsgrove, Pa.
David Lewis, from superintendent, Miami Trace Local schools, Washington Court House, Ohio, to superintendent, Newark, Ohio
John Moore, from associate superintendent to superintendent, Galena Park, Texas
Donald Rhodes, from superintendent, Damon, Texas, to superintendent, Crowell, Texas
Todd White, from assistant superintendent, Perryton, Texas, to superintendent, Santa Anna, Texas

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