Beaumont administrators big winners in annual awards

Emily Senecal, ACSA's Awards Committee Liaison, said Beaumont, with four, garnered the most winners/nominations of any school in Riverside County.

To win the ACSA awards, administrators must, among other things, promote the success of students by facilitating a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the community, sustaining a school culture and instructional program that encourages learning and professional growth and by collaborating with parents to respond to diverse community interests and needs.

Kayrell, who is active in ACSA, is Region 19's 2009 President-elect.

Following are brief looks at each of the winners.

Dr. Barry Kayrell, Superintendent

Empowerment leads to success. That, in a nutshell, is Kayrell's management philosophy. So it's no surprise that Kayrell, as most modest leaders and manager do, attributes much of his success - and the District's - to his staff.

"We have been successful as a team," he said while sitting in his office, which is festooned with plaques, awards, pictures of his wife and children and enough memorabilia to let you know where he went to school: USC. "If you empower people and give them the tools to do their job, they succeed. I am very lucky to have such a great cabinet [the assistant superintendents]. They are great people who work together collaboratively.

"The leadership group has more than 125 years of experience."

He also praised his office staff for helping keep him on track.

Since Kayrell arrived three years ago, the District has been transformed. During his tenure, a number of state-of-the-art schools have been built, the District received it's first-ever California Distinguished School Award (Brookside Elementary), test scores have risen and new programs have been initiated to deal with specific situations.

Among the new programs are Capturing Kids Hearts, which helps teachers work with students, and Gateways, a program the District is piloting that aims to bring those below grade level back to where they should be.

Kayrell, who has been in education for 33 years, almost didn't make it to the superintendent's seat. Prior to becoming an educator, Kayrell passed his flight exam for the Navy/Marine Corps, but he decided to pursue a career in education. Fortunately for Beaumont, he decided to keep his feet on the ground. He attended San Bernardino Valley College and Cal State San Bernardino, where he earned his Bachelors and Masters in Administration. He received his Ed.D at the University of Southern California.

Eventually, he became superintendent in Oroville, where he "did all chairs" and gained valuable experience. His background includes work in curriculum, human resources and adult education. He also did a stint as an assistant principal at San Bernardino High School.

As if being a superintendent doesn't keep him busy enough, he also teaches School Personnel Management at the University of Redlands. "It's a wonderful connection for me" he said. "It keeps me grounded."

Not one to be chained to his desk, Kayrell, usually with one or more of his Cabinet members, regularly visits schools and attends events, such as pep rallies, plays and musical productions. He even was a judge at a recent high school Chili Cook-Off, where, he said, the hot stuff made his nose run.

Kayrell prides himself on keeping lines of communication open between the District and the community. "The community support of our bond, Measure Z, was a testament to how good a job our schools are doing," he said.

Also instituted during his time in office is the ConnectEd service through which District officials can call students' homes and, via a recorded message, announce events or provide other important information.

Susie Lara, Board of Trustees President, had high praise for Kayrell. "He is well-deserving of the awards," she said. "In these economic times, he is doing the best that he can. He and the Cabinet try to keep the District going forward. And he's a nice guy. He's easy to talk to and very approachable.

"He puts a lot of time and effort into everything he does. He doesn't just jump into the fray." Lara said she appreciates that he and his Cabinet give the Board enough information to make informed decisions.

In a right-back-atcha comment, Kayrell praised the Trustees. "Our Board doesn't micro-manage. It lets us do our job."

Among his proudest moments in the District are:
• Three schools were nominated for the California Distinguished School award and one won;
• The high school's Academic Performance Index (API) increased 45 points;
• Sundance Elementary has won Title I honors three times;
• Students at Chavez/Anna Hause Elementary API increased 37 points, and their English Language Learners (ELL) scores increased 61 points, one of the highest in Riverside County;
• San Gorgonio Middle School saw a 33-point API gain with all subgroups meeting or exceeding their targets.

"When I look at the growth of this school district in the last three years...," he said almost wistfully, "we built schools, hired great people and offered teachers training. And we empowered people. We let people do their jobs."

As for the future, Kayrell knows he faces some major challenges. "My biggest fear concerns the budget crisis. We can't allow it to slow our momentum. We have to find a way to fill the gaps.

"We can't forget our primary mission: Our kids."

Steve Hovey, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel

If you're ever looking for Steve Hovey, just look for the guy in the pin-striped suit.

If you're a bit down, just talk to Steve Hovey. His quick wit and sense of humor is guaranteed to make you smile.

And if you're after the person who revamped the District's Personnel operation, including making the job application procedure paperless, then Steve Hovey is the one to whom you should speak.

"Steve is one of the most veteran and experienced Human Resources administrators in the Inland Empire," said Kayrell of the man who was nominated for the ACSA award for best Personnel/Human Resources Administrator. "He is recognized as an expert in his field. He's on countless commissions and advisory boards.
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"He is one of the most principled and ethical administrators I've ever worked with."

Hovey is a 36-year veteran of the Riverside County Office of Education, where he held numerous positions, including special education teacher, principal, director of curriculum and instruction and director of personnel.

"After a number of years as director of personnel for the County, I wanted to work in a school district," Hovey said. "And Beaumont was the perfect opportunity. It's a growing district with a good reputation and a stable and responsible school board. This is a different type of service."

Hovey, who came to Beaumont in December 2006, knew Kayrell when the superintendent was assistant superintendent of personnel in the Perris Union High School District. And he worked with Mays Kakish, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, at RCOE, so that made coming to Beaumont that much more attractive.

In addition to his Personnel duties, Hovey attends many events at the District's schools, including the District's spelling bee, where he was the Spellmaster, the one who reads the words to the contestants. He's also attended high school pep rallies (minus ear plugs), plays, as well as sporting and music events.

"I enjoy being in this District and participating at the schools," he said. "After all those years in Riverside, it's nice to come to a small community. It's fun working directly with the kids. And it's great to see the students' enthusiasm."

At 61, Hovey said he is still not done. "I'm still learning. We've done a lot of things in the past few years to help the District grow and improve. But none of us do things by ourselves," he said, referring to his staff.

Among the things he does for employees is to read all the evaluations and provide feedback. "No one ever gets feedback from evaluations. So I figured I'd shoot them an e-mail saying, 'You're doing a great job.'"

Hovey counts among his major accomplishments the conversion of the job application process from paper to digital. Putting the process online "saves time and a lot of paper," he said. "It's more efficient because we don't lose applications anymore. And there are no security issues from applications floating around."

As part of the changeover, Hovey put a computer in the small room behind the Board room that applicants can use to either look for a job or fill out an application.

"Steve also cleaned up our seniority lists and converted our contracts to e-files," Kayrell said. "That's been a big plus."

Hovey is proud of the positive relationships he's developed with the District's bargaining units, the Beaumont Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association. "We respect one another and work together to resolve issues."

Looking at the big picture, Hovey knows it is all about the students. "Our fundamental purpose is to help the kids. I get great satisfaction in trying to hire great teachers. I've been around for the beginning of many good things," he said.

The recent round of layoffs has been hard on Hovey. "We don't terminate people lightly," he said. "Taking people's jobs away is not a pleasant experience. The layoffs are undoing a lot of what we accomplished."

And when employees come to him with a problem, it's time to put his listening skills to work. "You have to be understanding when someone has an issue. It may take up a small part of my day, but it's a big concern to them. To be a benefit, you have to listen and try to help. We're not just dealing with employees, we're dealing with families."

Wayne Hackney, Beaumont High School Assistant Principal/Athletic Director

Forty-eight years after he first walked into a classroom as a teacher, Wayne Hackney still loves coming to school. Why? It's the kids.

"They kept me going for 48 years," he said while sitting in his Assistant Principal/Athletic Director office at Beaumont High School. "If I didn't like kids, I'd be outta here."

It's that love and dedication that helped Hackney earn a nomination for the Association of California School Administrators Administrator of the Year Award in the Secondary Co-Administrator category.

Hackney said he was "totally surprised" at the nomination and still doesn't know who submitted his name. It was Superintendent Dr. Barry Kayrell.

"I'm proud that ACSA has recognized Wayne for his 40-plus years of contributions to young people," Kayrell said. "It's a tribute to all the wonderful things he's done in Beaumont."

Before becoming an educator, Hackney attended Black Hills State College in South Dakota, where he played football as a defensive halfback, baseball as a second baseman and basketball as a guard. He eventually transferred to Eastern Montana College, where he majored in physical education and minored in math. He was even named Outstanding Male PE Graduate in his senior year.

He earned his administrative credential from Azusa Pacific.

Hackney came to Beaumont in 1986 after teaching math and coaching in Montana and Wyoming for 25 years. A friendly man who is quick to laugh yet tough on scofflaws, Hackney is an imposing presence as he walks around the campus. Known to many because of his longevity, even the kids he disciplines don't stay mad at him long.

His friendship with his students obviously is important to Hackney as he talks of his past. "Parents would sometimes drop kids off at the house, and we became good friends," he said.

He misses teaching, "to some degree. I miss the daily interaction with the students." As an assistant principal, though, he likes not having to "answer the bell. As an administrator you can keep doing what you're doing."

And he has plenty to keep him busy. In addition to his assistant principal duties, he has many responsibilities as athletic director. Among other things, he:
• Makes sure the high school's athletic program is "functioning at the highest degree possible;"
• Works with coaches to help schedule games;
• Finds officials, such as referees, for the games;
• Oversees the campus' athletic facilities;
• Keeps track of teams' eligibility.

One thing he won't do is interfere when it comes to who plays and who doesn't. "I will not dictate to a coach." Maybe that's one of the reasons he won the State Athletic Directors Leadership Award in 2004.

Sitting behind a desk doesn't mean he can't sit in the stands as well; he attends as many Beaumont games as possible. One day, as he tells it, he attended a water polo match in Brea, then drove north to Santa Clarita to watch a boys basketball game. But it wasn't that long ago when he was more than a spectator; he used to coach the high school boys basketball team, which led to his proudest moment: winning the 1998 CIF Division Championship.

In his nearly 50 years as an educator, which will end when he retires after this school year, Hackney has seen a lot. "Education has improved considerably," he said. "So much has been added. I wouldn't want to have to start school again."

Among the changes he has seen is the No Child Left Behind Act, which Hackney likes for its increased accountability. "I'm not sure we need all those tests, though."

And when he leaves education? "I'll miss all the relationships with the students and my co-workers. I've had so many good experiences, there are too many to mention. When I think of how many kids' lives I've touched ..."

David Williams, Beaumont Adult School Principal

If David Williams ever tells you everything is shipshape, believe him. He knows what he's talking about.

Williams, Beaumont Adult School Principal, spent 21 years in the Navy, retiring as a Lt. Commander, before entering education. "This is my third and final career," he said. Between the Navy and education, Williams worked for a defense contractor, where his duties included administering federal grants.

So between his Naval experience as a mechanical engineer, where he managed people, and his private industry work, where he managed federal contracts, Williams was perfectly suited to enter adult education.

"In the Navy, I spent a lot of time training young sailors in vocational skills, academics and things like correspondence," he said. "I got a sense that I could better relate to adults than kids in grades K through 12."

Williams was an electrician when he enlisted right out of high school. Eventually, he was assigned to the USS Plunger (SSN 595), a nuclear submarine. He then went on to get a Bachelors of Science in mechanical engineering at the University of New Mexico while in the service. After leaving the Navy and the defense contractor, he attended Cal State San Bernardino, where he earned his Masters of Education, Administration.

Under his direction and that of his predecessor, Darrell Brown, now the District's Assessment and Accountability Coordinator, the Adult School has grown, and is still growing.

"Dave really has taken ownership of the Adult Education Program and has expanded some of the existing programs," said Kayrell. "He's got a great LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) Program. He's also emphasized parent education through the school's Parent Academy, increased the ADA (Average Daily Attendance) and has a great ESL (English as a Second Language) program.

"He's recognized by his peers as a go-to person."

Williams' proudest achievement is his organization, the programs it offers and the granting of a full six-year accreditation by Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

"I'm not solely responsible for this (ACSA) award," he said. "This award is more about the programs and the success they have had more than it is about me. The result of the accreditation by WASC really validates the program we have put in place. It's really a tribute to the staff and teachers."

The school has grown at a rapid-fire pace. In 2002, Williams said, the Adult School claimed a single-wide manufactured unit as its home. "We used Glen View and Laura May Stewart at night. Today, this facility has 13 classrooms, a medical lab, an administration building and a child-care facility." More than 1,900 students attended the school in 2007-2008.

Williams attributes much of the growth to District officials. "We've had great support from the District," he said. "This new facility has allowed us to grow. And I was lucky enough to be able to carry on some of the programs started by my predecessors."

And thanks to AB23, which ended a funding cap for Districts in fast-growing areas, the school was able to increase its funding based on student population. The Adult School, Williams said, has a balanced budget. As for the future and the forthcoming budget cuts, Williams is confident his program will continue to operate.

"We don't see the budget problems cutting existing services," he said. "We could see some reduced growth, though."

A financial advantage the Adult School has over the K-12 operation is that Williams hires quite a few retired teachers who want to work part time. "Or we have people who have other jobs and want to teach in the evenings. About 80 percent of our teachers are part time."

While the LVN program is the school's largest, it also attracts many area residents to its Parent's Academy, a one-day event at which parents can learn how to help their youngsters get through school.

"For K-12 kids to be successful, they need parental support and family involvement," said Williams, who was named the District's Adult Education Teacher of the Year in 2004. Among the Parent Academy offerings are tutor training, help with college preparation and English language skills development.

Two other programs of note are Distance Learning and Citizenship.

"I felt there was a real need for people who need their GED (General Education Diploma) for employment but can't get to the school," he said. Distance learning lets people work at home through their computers.

As for Citizenship, nearly 120 students have taken the class and have become citizens.

Williams, 56, said he is happy with his current challenges and successes. "We believe Adult Education is a proud supporter of K-12 and the community and can help increase employment through educational opportunities."

Among his goals are to increase the use of online resources to teach the material to adults and to integrate more technology into the Adult Ed classrooms.

"If we prepare for the best practices and standards, we've done the best we can."