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Archive for the ‘Administration’ Category

Principal/CTE Director resigns

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on April 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The agenda for next Thursday’s school board meeting includes approval of the resignation of Coupeville High School Principal/CTE Director Dan Berard.

Berard, who has held those positions since April 2025, announced in February he was stepping down at the end of the school year.

At the time, he said he would be transitioning to a different, as yet to be named, position within the district.

Instead, on March 16, Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood announced that Berard had been placed on “paid administrative leave while the district conducted a review process.”

Berard, who came to Coupeville after working 27 years in the Mount Vernon school district, replaced Geoff Kappes, who resigned as high school and middle school principal in April 2025.

Kappes was placed on “non-disciplinary leave pending an investigation” by Leatherwood in December 2024.

Saturday morning the Superintendent released the following statement:

Principal Dan Berard has been on approved medical leave and has submitted his resignation effective at the end of his contract.

He will remain on medical leave through the end of his employment with the district.

We are grateful for Dan’s service to our students and community and wish him well.

I will be sharing information about our leadership transition and search process in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support of Coupeville schools.

The latest move comes on the heels of the results of a union survey being released which shows low support for Berard, Leatherwood, and the School Board.

You can read a story about that survey, conducted by the Coupeville Education Association and the Coupeville Educational Support Association, here:

Survey paints troubling picture of leadership, morale in Coupeville schools

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Coupeville Schools lose tech whiz

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , on April 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Will Smith

The affable man with an answer for every tech question is taking his impressive skill set on to new adventures.

Will Smith, Director of Technology for the Coupeville School District, has left his post after an 8+ year run.

The Brandman University grad first came to work in Coupeville in 2018 after finishing his career with the US Navy.

Smith served from 1996 to 2018, starting and ending his military run at NAS Whidbey.

Along with keeping every computer running, every school board meeting stream from fritzing out, and thousands of other tasks, he has been a man of many callings.

Smith has been a volunteer coach with the North Whidbey Soccer Club and was a candidate for the Oak Harbor School Board in 2023.

In a community newsletter released Monday night, Coupeville Schools Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood addressed Smith’s departure.

“Our Technology Director has stepped down,” she wrote.

“I have been taking the time needed to develop a thoughtful plan before communicating broadly because our community deserves a path forward, not just an announcement.

“That plan will be shared with you in the coming weeks.”

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Another CHS principal placed on administrative leave

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on March 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

For the second time in as many years, the Coupeville School District has placed a high-ranking administrator on paid leave pending an investigation or review.

Dan Berard, who has been the high school principal and Career and Technical Education Director since April 2025, announced in February he was stepping down from those positions at the end of the school year.

At the time, he said he would be transitioning to a different, as yet to be named, position within the district.

Monday, Coupeville Schools Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood released the following statement:

Berard replaced Geoff Kappes, who resigned as high school and middle school principal in April 2025.

He was placed on “non-disciplinary leave pending an investigation” by Leatherwood in Dec. 2024.

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CHS Principal changing jobs

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on February 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Dan Berard

Coupeville High School will have its third principal in as many years when the 2026-2027 school year begins.

Dan Berard, who is in his first year in the district after a 27-year education career in Mount Vernon, is stepping down as CHS Principal and Career and Technical Education Director.

But he’s not leaving the prairie.

In a letter sent to students and families, Berard said “due to changing family health needs, I will be stepping away from my role as principal at the end of this school year to accept a different position within the Coupeville School District beginning next year.”

“This has been a thoughtful and personal decision,” he added.

“Serving as principal of Coupeville High School has been one of the greatest honors of my career.”

Berard’s new position has not been publicly revealed yet, with his letter saying, “in the coming weeks, the district will share more information about leadership transition plans.”

In that letter, Berard spoke glowingly of his time as Principal/CTE Director.

“I am deeply proud of our students, grateful for our dedicated staff, and appreciative of the partnership we share with families and this community,” he said.

“While my role will change, my commitment to our students and to Coupeville remains strong.

“I am thankful to continue serving within the district in a capacity that allows me to support my family while remaining part of this incredible school community.”

With four months remaining in this school year, Berard intends to keep things moving along smoothly.

“Please know that I am fully committed to finishing this school year strong,” he said.

“Our focus remains on supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally as we move toward graduation, spring activities, and all the important milestones ahead.”

Berard replaced Geoff Kappes after he resigned as Coupeville’s high school and middle school principal, while also picking up the CTE duties.

Becky Cays was hired as CMS Principal and CHS/CMS Athletic Director and remains in those positions.

Before coming to Whidbey, Berard was most recently the Executive Director of Operations for the Mount Vernon School District.

He previously worked as a teacher, middle school principal, assistant principal, dean of students, and athletic director, starting in Mount Vernon schools in 1998.

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Coupeville Schools tab new Maintenance Supervisor

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on February 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Jon Beck

There’s a new guy in charge.

The Coupeville School District has hired Jon Beck as its Supervisor of Maintenance, Operations and Capital Projects, pending school board approval at Thursday’s meeting.

He replaces Scott Losey, a CHS grad who recently retired after several decades working for the district.

In a newsletter sent out Tuesday, Coupeville Schools Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood hailed Beck for “bringing over 35 years of experience in facilities management, fleet maintenance, and capital project oversight, with extensive expertise in apparatus and equipment maintenance, contractor management, and procurement.

“He holds certifications from the National Fire Academy and is a Kohler and Generac Certified Generator Technician, bringing valuable hands-on technical knowledge to the role,” she added.

Beck is “known for his detail-oriented leadership style and commitment to operational efficiency and safety,” Leatherwood said.

“He specializes in preventative maintenance programs, capital project planning, public bidding processes, and facilities repair and operations.

“He has also managed multi-million dollar budgets, overseeing site acquisition and facility construction, and directing maintenance teams.”

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