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Posts Tagged ‘Coupeville High School’

CHS tabs new principal

Posted in Administration, tagged Coupeville High School, Dan Berard, Geoff Kappes, Mount Vernon, new hire on April 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Less than two weeks after the resignation of Coupeville High School/Middle School Principal Geoff Kappes, Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood has announced the tentative hiring of Dan Berard as his replacement.

The hire is not official until approved by the school board.

Because of a recent restructuring of job duties, the new hire is not a straight replacement for Kappes.

Instead, Berard, who has spent the last 27 years in the Mount Vernon School District, is being hired as the high school principal and Career and Technical Education Director.

A second new hire, yet to be announced, will come on as middle school principal and CHS/CMS Athletic Director.

Pending board approval, Berard is set to start 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,” Leatherwood said in a community newsletter sent out Sunday afternoon.

“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.”

Berard is currently the Executive Director of Operations for the Mount Vernon School District, a role he has held for the past 10 months.

He has 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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CHS Principal resigns

Posted in Everything changes, tagged Coupeville High School, Geoff Kappes, principal, resignation on April 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

CHS/CMS Principal Geoff Kappes has stepped down. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coupeville High School/Middle School Principal Geoff Kappes, who has been out since late last year, has resigned his position.

“After careful consideration I have decided to resign as principal of CMHS,” he said in a statement.

“Thank you for allowing me to serve as your principal.

“It has been such a privilege to witness our children grow and flourish,” he added. “Every day, I have been inspired by their determination and kindness.

“Watching them develop into thoughtful, capable young adults has been the most rewarding aspect of my role.”

Kappes, who has been a teacher, coach, and administrator during two tours of duty in Coupeville schools, was part of a team which helped the district make it successfully through the pandemic.

He and wife Christie, a teacher at the high school, have two sons who attend Coupeville schools, and the family has been at the forefront of community activity.

While his next job will be someplace else, Geoff Kappes said he has been greatly impacted by his time in Wolf Nation.

“The academic achievements, artistic performances, athletic successes, and acts of service I’ve witnessed have reinforced my belief in the extraordinary potential of Coupeville kids,” he said.

“I will carry the memories of my time here with me always and I wish you the best of luck.”

Geoff Kappes and CHS/CMS Assistant Principal Allyson Cundiff were placed on “non-disciplinary leave pending an investigation” Dec. 16, though district officials declined to say why.

A records request by the Whidbey News-Times surfaced documents related to the handling of two incidents.

One involved a “club” which made social media posts threatening sexual assault of ethnic minority individuals, and one involved the sharing of a video allegedly depicting an off-campus assault.

Records show three students were expelled while others received suspensions in relation to the two unrelated incidents.

Cundiff was brought back in “a new capacity” Mar. 19, with Coupeville Schools Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood saying Cundiff would “be helping with various administrative tasks that support our school buildings and student needs.”

In a statement Tuesday, Leatherwood indicated the district intends to “implement a new leadership structure” while thanking Kappes for his work.

“We sincerely appreciate his many years of dedicated service and the positive impact he has made on students and our school community during his tenure,” she wrote.

“We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

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CHS assembly features YouTube stars

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged assembly, Coupeville High School, Hannah Burcaw, interabled couple, Shane Burcaw, Trudy Sundberg on March 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Shane and Hannah Burcaw came to CHS Thursday. (Jackie Saia photos)

Coupeville High School students got to experience a unique take on life Thursday morning.

Disability rights advocates and YouTube stars Shane and Hannah Burcaw offered a presentation “recognizing the power of humor in improving lives.”

Shane Burcaw, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, launched a blog in 2011 to share his life experiences.

He and his cousin Sarah later started an organization called Laughing at My Nightmare, which “enhances the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by offering free adaptive and medical equipment, assistive technology, and access to higher education.”

Burcaw and his wife also have a popular YouTube channel, “Squirmy and Grubs.”

Thursday’s assembly was part of the 2025 Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series for high school students, sponsored by Sno-Isle Libraries.