Becky Cays
New year, new title.
Becky Cays, who was hired as Coupeville Middle School Principal and High School/Middle School Athletic Director before the start of the 2025-2026 school year, is getting an official promotion.
She will be the new High School/Middle School Principal, in a move announced Friday by Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood.
Cays new gig becomes official once approved by the school board.
She will be the third CHS Principal in as many years, as her predecessors, Geoff Kappes and Dan Berard, were both placed on administrative leave by Leatherwood, then later resigned.
Cays has been the acting principal for both schools since Berard’s departure.
“If your student attends either school, you may already know Mrs. Cays,” Leatherwood said in a community newsletter. “She has been a steady, caring, and highly capable presence in both buildings.
“Over the past several months, Mrs. Cays stepped forward to lead both campuses at the same time.
“During that period, she has built strong leadership teams, supported students through positive behavior frameworks, ensured every teacher received a formal evaluation, and kept both schools moving forward without missing a beat.
“She did not just fill a role. She has been leading with vision and heart.”
Prior to arriving in Coupeville, Cays, who is a Washington state native, most recently worked as the K-12 Assistant Principal at the International Schools Group in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
Her education career has taken her to areas as diverse as Redmond and Indonesia.
With Cays officially becoming principal of two Coupeville schools, there are two other tweaks planned for the administration moving forward.
Former longtime Athletic Director Willie Smith, who has been covering the position since Cays stepped in for Berard, will work next year as a Teacher on Special Assignment and once again be the guiding hand behind Wolf athletics.
Meanwhile, counselor Lori Atlas will complete her principal internship, while adding additional leadership presence across both campuses.
“Together, this team ensures that both the middle school and the high school have visible, accessible, and caring adults who know your students by name,” Leatherwood said.
“We know stability matters to families. We know you want to see leadership that is present in the hallways, at events, and engaged with the life of the school.
“That is exactly what this team is built to deliver.”
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