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Posts Tagged ‘job change’

Popular principal leaving Coupeville Elementary

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on June 17, 2026| 1 Comment »

Erica McColl

The top-rated administrator in the Coupeville School District is departing.

After two very successful years at the helm of the town’s elementary school, Principal Erica McColl has resigned to accept an administrative position in Mount Vernon.

She will be that district’s new Director of Student Support and Prevention Services.

In a letter to the community released Wednesday evening, McColl expressed how much the CES job has meant to her.

“I have loved every minute of being your principal,” she said. “And I want to emphasize that I am still a Coupeville mom, community member, neighbor, and friend.

“I am committed to ensuring all of our hard work and systems we have in place will remain intact and ensuring a smooth hand off for the next person fortunate enough to lead you all.

“I am so grateful for the support I’ve had from this community, and I look forward to seeing you while out supporting our kids!”

McColl arrived in Coupeville after working as a middle school principal in Anacortes.

She was originally hired as the middle school/high school assistant principal in July 2024, before moving down the street in October of that year to replace CES Principal David Ebersole when he retired.

Before that, McColl, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in counseling, was an assistant principal in the Marysville School District and the Multi-tiered Systems of Support Manager with the Edmonds School District.

In her two years on the job in Coupeville, she had a hugely positive impact on students, and was highly respected by colleagues, teachers, support staff, and parents.

In a recent survey conducted by the Coupeville Education Association and the Coupeville Educational Support Association, McColl received consistent praise across the board, the only administrator in the district to earn substantial support.

McColl stayed busy in all aspects of community life, including coaching volleyball.

Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood thanked McColl for her work and wished her the best going forward.

“This news is bittersweet,” Leatherwood said. “Over the past year and a half, Erica has led our elementary school with warmth, dedication, and extreme focus on what’s best for our students.

“She has strengthened the systems, culture, and sense of community that make our elementary school such a special place for children to learn and grow. While we will miss her, we’re genuinely happy for her as she steps into this exciting new role.

“We are deeply grateful for Erica’s leadership and the lasting impact she has made on our school. Please join me in thanking her and wishing her all the best in this next chapter.”

McColl will be remembered for her positive outlook and quality leadership.

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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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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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“We will be implementing a new leadership structure”

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on April 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Shannon Leatherwood is reshaping the administration in the Coupeville School District.

Or at least that’s the plan as detailed in a letter sent out Tuesday by the first-year superintendent.

In the wake of Middle School/High School Principal Geoff Kappes resigning, Leatherwood announced plans to replace both him and former Assistant Principal Allyson Cundiff with employees who will fill multiple positions.

Her letter:

Dear Coupeville School District Families, Students, and Community Members,

I am writing to share important information regarding leadership changes at our middle and high schools.

Yesterday, Geoff Kappes resigned from his position as middle/high school principal.

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.

We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

As we move forward, we are taking this opportunity to carefully evaluate how our administrative structure can best support student success.

Our focus remains on creating the most positive, engaging, and effective learning environment possible for all Coupeville students.

We are excited to announce that we will be implementing a new leadership structure that will provide more focused attention to both our middle and high schools while strengthening key programs:

Middle School Principal/Athletic Director: We will be hiring a dedicated Middle School Principal who will also serve as the Athletic Director for our 6-12 athletic programs.

This position will ensure strong leadership for our middle school students during these critical developmental years while building a cohesive athletic program across all grade levels.

High School Principal/CTE Director: We will be hiring a High School Principal who will also serve as the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Director for grades 6-12.

This position will provide focused leadership for our high school while strengthening career pathways and real-world learning opportunities for all students.

This restructured approach will allow us to provide enhanced leadership in key areas while remaining fiscally responsible.

In fact, these changes have been designed to generate cost savings for the district while improving services to students.

Community input is essential as we select our new school leaders.

This week, we will be distributing surveys to families, students, and community members to gather your perspectives on the qualities and characteristics you believe are most important in our next school leaders.

We will also be forming interview teams that include parent and community representatives to participate in the selection process.

Information about how to express interest in serving on these teams will be coming soon.

Throughout this transition, our commitment to providing an excellent education for every student remains unchanged.

Our dedicated teachers and staff continue to focus on creating engaging learning experiences and supporting student growth.

We are confident that this transition will continue to strengthen our schools and enhance the educational experience for all students.

We appreciate your continued support of Coupeville schools and look forward to partnering with you as we move forward together.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Shannon Leatherwood
Superintendent
Coupeville School District

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The torch has been passed

Posted in Administration, tagged , , , , on August 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Willie Smith, having handed over athletic director duties to Brad Sherman, prepares to scamper away.

Old office, new boss.

With the start of a new fall sports season arriving Monday, the change at the top of Coupeville school athletics became official-official.

Wolf grad Brad Sherman, who doubles as the CHS boys’ basketball coach, is now firmly entrenched as the high school/middle school athletic director.

And the former boss, Willie Smith, who is doing one more year as a teacher before fully hitting the road, is free to run wild in the waning days of summer, with nary a single schedule change to contemplate.

The times, they are a ‘changing.

But the focus remains the same.

“I would like to carry forward what Willie and Ron (Bagby) have done over the years,” Sherman said of his former coaches, men who were also his predecessors in the AD chair.

“Their commitment to our kids and the culture they helped build are very important,” he added. “I would like to help lead all of our programs to a very high level.”

Sherman’s grandfather on his mother’s side, Ernie Dire, was a longtime AD for Everett schools, and his service is commemorated in the office where his grandson is now beginning to write his own story.

On the wall of the office Sherman inherited from Smith, there is a display linking athletic letters from Everett and Coupeville schools, a daily reminder for the new man in charge.

As a true man of the prairie, having grown up in Coupeville as part of a farming family, Brad Sherman has been a vital part of Wolf athletics at every level – athlete, coach, and now administrator.

With his own four boys, wife Abbey, and a vast sprawling network of family in place to support him, the new AD was built for this job.

“There is no place I’d rather be than here,” Sherman said, as he deftly juggled scheduling changes, coach and parent interactions, and pesky reporters, before later capping his day with an appearance at the booster club meeting.

“I love the quote – make the big time where you are,” he added.

“It’s not just about wins and losses, it’s about building a strong culture, to benefit these kids in whatever they do in their lives. That’s the goal.”

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