A 36-year career in the Virginia Beach City School District has ultimately landed an administrator in the top spot. Interim superintendent Donald Robertson took the helm of Virginia’s fourth largest school division on Feb. 1 after having also served as chief of staff, chief strategy and innovation officer, high school principal and math teacher, among other posts.
“I believe in the power of education and more importantly, in our collective potential to accomplish even greater things together,” said Robertson, who was twice named the district’s wrestling coach of the year.
Several administrators with experience as superintendents have moved into new roles in recent weeks. Interim superintendent Veronica Vijil has been named permanent leader of Seguin ISD, which is outside San Antonio, Texas. Vijil, previously the district’s deputy superintendent, has also served as superintendent of Fabens ISD during her 34 years in education.
Mary Elizabeth Davis, who is currently the superintendent of Henry County Schools in Georgia, has been chosen as the sole finalist to lead the Cherokee County School District, with the school board scheduled for a final vote on Feb. 15. Davis has also been an administrator in the Cobb County and Gwinnett County school districts.
In Missouri, Roy Webb has been appointed superintendent of the Hannibal School District. Webb was the superintendent of Quincy Public Schools in Illinois from 2015 to 2022. He has also served as a a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal during his career. And in Kansas, Brad Neuenswander is taking over at Jefferson West USD 340 after having led two other districts: Ellis USD 388 from 1998–2001 and Cheney USD 268, from 2001 –2007.
First-timers are stepping up as new superintendents
Interim superintendent Andrea Kersten has been promoted to lead Akron Central Schools after having served as director of curriculum and instruction at the upstate New York district. Kersten, who began her new role on Jan. 24, helped launch the district’s new Facebook page earlier this school year.
Read more from DA: How to build schools: Help your community tell its story
The School District of Arcadia in Wisconsin has chosen Lori Frerk, currently a high school principal in Green Bay, as its next superintendent. And in Iowa, the West Delaware Community School District School Board has named Jen Vance superintendent. Vance has also served as assistant superintendent in the Central DeWitt CSD and as a mentor for new administrators within the School Administrators of Iowa.
More new first-time leaders:
- Freddie Bowling, Pike County School District (Kentucky)
- Deidre Jenson, Sitka School District (Alaska)
- Paul Kuhlman, Avon School District (South Dakota)
- Shane Martin, Turtle Mountain Community Schools (North Dakota)
- Bobby Murphy, USD 112 Central Plains (Kansas)
- Nathan Perry, Evansville Community School District (Wisconsin)
