People Watch
School Administrator, December 2015



Christine Burton
Millburn, N.J., Township Schools has appointed Christine Burton as superintendent. The longtime New Jersey educator served briefly as the district’s interim superintendent in early 2015 and five years as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Previously, Burton was director of mathematics at Montgomery Township Schools in Skillman, N.J., and a math content specialist in Hillsborough, N.J., for 12 years. An AASA member since 2010, she earned an Ed.D. in education leadership, management and policy from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.



James P. Capolupo
After a decade as superintendent in Springfield, Pa., James Capolupo has joined the faculty of West Chester University in West Chester, Pa., as associate dean of the College of Education. Capolupo began his education career as a teacher in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, then served 11 years in various administrative roles in the Plymouth Meeting, Horsham and Morrisville, Pa., districts. He was assistant superintendent of Springfield School District before taking the helm there in 2005. An AASA member since 2006, Capolupo is Pennsylvania’s 2015 superintendent of the year.



Traci Davis
Native Nevadan Traci Davis has been named superintendent of the 63,000-student Washoe County School District in Reno after a year as the district’s interim superintendent and two years as its deputy superintendent. Previously, she worked 16 years in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, where she served as a Title I interventionist, assistant principal, principal and area superintendent. An AASA member since 2014, Davis was recognized with the Nevada National Distinguished Principal award in 2011 for her efforts transforming an at-risk school.



Tina A. Kerr
An AASA member since 2006, Tina Kerr is now deputy executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators. Kerr served as superintendent in Coldwater, Mich., for the past five years, during which she was named Michigan’s state superintendent of the year in 2012. Earlier, she was superintendent of Bangor Township Schools in Bay City, Mich., for four years and spent the first eight years of her education administration career as a principal and curriculum coordinator in Almont, Mich. Kerr holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Michigan State University.




APPOINTMENTS

Keith Ballard, from superintendent, Tulsa, Okla., to director, Professional Development and Leadership Academy, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
Brian Binggeli, from superintendent, Brevard Public Schools, Viera, Fla., to superintendent, Plano, Texas
Helio Brasil, from superintendent, Merced River School District, Winton, Calif., to superintendent, McSwain Union Elementary School District, Merced, Calif.
James Crisfield, from superintendent, Millburn, N.J., to superintendent, Wissahickon School District, Ambler, Pa.
Dennis Goodwin, from superintendent, N.R.H.E.G. School District, New Richland, Minn., to superintendent, Camp Verde, Ariz.
Jeff Graham, from superintendent, Parma, Ohio, to superintendent, Lorain, Ohio
Brian Hunt, from superintendent, Edmeston, N.Y., to superintendent, Voorheesville, N.Y.
Michael Kozak, from superintendent, Burlington, N.J., to superintendent, Monroe Township School District, Middlesex County, N.J.
Danny Massey, from interim superintendent to superintendent, Brazosport Independent School District, Clute, Texas
Dave Moyer, from superintendent, Moline-Coal Valley School District, Moline, Ill., to superintendent, Elmhurst, Ill.
Bob Pritchard, from superintendent, Mexico, N.Y., to superintendent, South Orangetown Central Schools, Blauvelt, N.Y.
Mark Raiff, from chief academic officer to superintendent, Olentangy Local School District, Lewis Center, Ohio
Sean Smith, from superintendent, Archie, Mo., to superintendent, Carthage, Mo.
John Thomsen, from superintendent, St. Francis, Wis., to superintendent, Whitefish Bay, Wis.



HONORS

Linda Clark, superintendent, West Ada School District, Meridian, Idaho, named to Idaho State Board of Education, Boise, Idaho
Kevin Fitzgerald, superintendent, Caesar Rodney School District, Wyoming, Del., elected to board of directors, National Federation of State High School Associations, Indianapolis, Ind.



DEATHS

David Breen, 64, retired superintendent, Hopedale, Mass., June 8
Donald Daniel, 68, retired superintendent, Aledo, Texas, June 10
David Mooij, 63, superintendent, Neptune, N.J., June 21


Sidelight

From age 2, Donna Burroughs played piano in her grandmother’s Neidlinger Family Band. The lifelong Indianan later put herself through music studies at DePauw University, performing at the Holiday Inn cocktail lounge on Saturday nights and church services Sunday mornings before going to work as a K-12 music teacher. Now 61 and in her fourth year as superintendent of Triton School Corporation in Bourbon, Ind., she stays sharp on piano, organ and accordion at church events and nursing homes. “Music can bind people together,” says Burroughs, who, over the past 40 years, has written the school song for every school where she’s worked. “I’ve used it to reinforce concepts as a teacher and to add school spirit as an administrator.”




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