WELCOMING OUR NEW HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL/CTE Director: DAN BERARD
I am excited to announce that, pending board approval on Wednesday, Dan Berard will be joining our district leadership team as the new High School Principal/CTE Director beginning July 1.
Mr. Berard was selected through a comprehensive process that included a panel interview with 11 staff members, a student-led tour with questions developed by our students, and opportunities for staff observation and feedback. This thorough approach helped us identify a candidate who closely aligns with the qualities our community indicated were most important in our principal search survey.
Our community survey revealed several priorities that guided our selection:
- 93% of respondents rated "Strong Communication Skills with Families" as very important (4-5 rating)
- 86% prioritized "Experience in Secondary Education" as highly important
- 86% valued "Visible Presence During School Activities and Events"
- 86% emphasized the importance of "Skills in Staff Leadership and Development"
- 80% highlighted "Experience Supporting Diverse Student Needs" as significant
Mr. Berard brings extensive experience that aligns perfectly with these priorities. His background includes serving as Middle School Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, and Athletic Director in the Mount Vernon School District, followed by leadership as Executive Director of Categorical Programs.
Throughout his career, Mr. Berard has demonstrated expertise in several areas essential to our district's growth, including:
- Safety and security measures, including emergency planning
- Family and community partnerships - Team building and staff development
- Student engagement and quality instruction
- Athletic administration and program development
In his dual role as CTE Director, Mr. Berard will focus on expanding our career and technical education pathways to provide students with more opportunities to develop workplace skills and earn industry certifications. His experience managing over 30 grants annually will be invaluable as we strengthen connections between academic learning and career preparation. Mr. Berard has a proven track record of developing innovative programs that align with workforce needs and creating meaningful partnerships with local businesses and industry leaders.
His successful leadership in reducing office referrals by 75% through reformed school discipline approaches aligns with our commitment to creating supportive learning environments where students can thrive. Additionally, his experience developing innovative family engagement programs will be valuable assets to our district.
Mr. Berard's educational philosophy centers on balancing accountability with connection—focusing on both academic excellence and the social-emotional wellbeing of students. He is committed to working collaboratively with staff, students, and parents to build upon Coupeville's strengths while addressing areas for growth.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Berard to our community. For those who completed our principal search surveys, thank you for your input—your feedback was instrumental in this selection process. We look forward to introducing Mr. Berard to our community in the coming weeks.
Sincerely,
Shannon Leatherwood Superintendent
Budget Committee Recognition
We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the 30 dedicated staff, students, and community members who served on our Budget Committee from January through April of this year. This diverse team worked tirelessly to analyze our district's financial situation, including potential state apportionment, federal funding uncertainties, and other budgetary factors.
Their collaborative efforts resulted in thoughtful recommendations for potential reallocations and reductions that balance fiscal responsibility with our educational mission. Their insights have been invaluable as we navigate these challenging financial circumstances.
The committee will reconvene in June to review our draft budget for the upcoming school year before we make the recommendation to the board for approval. We invite all community members to learn more about their important work by visiting our district website below, where you can access detailed financial information, review committee meeting minutes, and read through the questions and answers that guided their process.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and expertise to this essential work!
We wanted to take a moment to share our upcoming state assessment schedule. Thank you for your ongoing support for our students and staff.
Tuesday/Thursday, April 22/24: ELA testing for 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th graders (and any 11th and 12th who have not yet achieved a passing score)
Tuesday, April 29: Science testing for 8th graders
Thursday, May 1: Science testing for 11th graders
Tuesday/Thursday, May 6/8: Math testing for 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th graders (and any 11th and 12th who have not yet achieved a passing score)
Upcoming AP Exams are on:
- May 06: Chemistry / Government
- May 07: Literature and Composition
- May 09: US History
- May 12: Calculus BC
- May 16: Physics
