principal | Coupeville Sports

Posts Tagged ‘principal’

Elementary school tabs new principal

Posted in Administration, tagged Battle Ground, Coupeville Elementary School, Lisa Ferguson-Hipolito, new hire, principal on July 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Lisa Ferguson-Hipolito has been tabbed as the next principal for Coupeville Elementary School.

She is jumping to Whidbey from Battle Ground, and replaces Erica McColl, who resigned to accept a position in Skagit County.

Ferguson-Hipolito was most recently the Assistant Principal at Yacolt Primary School, which serves students in pre-K through fourth grade, and was selected by a 17-member interview team which included staff, school board members, and administrators.

Her hire will be official once approved by the school board at its next meeting.

“Choosing the right leader for our students is one of the most important responsibilities we have, and I want you to know how seriously we took it,” Coupeville Schools Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood said.

“We were thrilled with our candidates. Lisa stood out as the right person to lead our school and care for our students.”

Ferguson-Hipolito is originally from Hawaii, graduating from Maui High School in 1982. Her college education came at Chaminade University and Washington State University.

As an elementary educator, she began as a classroom teacher across grades one through four, before working as a reading and intervention specialist, then a school administrator.

“That experience gives her a clear understanding of what young learners need to grow and thrive,” Leatherwood said.

“What impressed us most about Lisa is her genuine care for children and her belief that strong schools are built on strong partnerships with families.

“She has a long record of welcoming parents into the learning process, supporting early learners, and making sure every child has what they need to succeed.

“She leads with warmth, listens well, and keeps students at the heart of her work.”

Read Full Post »

“Bucket” co-creator retires

Posted in South Whidbey: Not the Antichrist, tagged John Patton, principal, retirement, SWHS Falcons, The Bucket on July 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »

John Patton

One of two men responsible for creating “The Bucket,” the trophy given to the winner of the annual Coupeville vs. South Whidbey High School football game, has retired.

John Patton, who was the Falcon Athletic Director when he and CHS counterpart Willie Smith got creative to solve a disagreement between students at their respective schools, has been the SWHS Principal since 2011.

His retirement, which caps a three-decade run in the world of education, was effective July 1.

“Principal Patton’s departure marks the conclusion of an extraordinary chapter for the South Whidbey School District, where he has been a cornerstone of leadership, sportsmanship, and school spirit,” said South Whidbey Superintendent Dr. Becky Clifford.

“(His) impact on generations of students, athletes, and staff is immeasurable. Over his distinguished career, he has worn many hats, leaving a lasting legacy in every role.”

Patton’s run includes 14 years as SWHS Principal and six as Assistant Principal.

“He guided South Whidbey High School with steady leadership, excellence, and a deep care for the student body,” Clifford said.

“He successfully guided us through high academic and athletic achievements, enrollment declines, the major transition and expansion from a 9-12 campus to a 6-12 campus, and the massive construction project that impacted the high school staff first.”

“We thank Principal Patton for his exceptional service, his unmatched dedication, and the incredible legacy of leadership he leaves behind.”

Liam Blas and CHS coach Bennett Richter claim their prize. (Kevin Blas photo)

While his departure will be felt mostly on the South end, his athletic legacy will live on every time CHS gridiron players, coaches, and fans look at The Bucket, currently residing in Cow Town after the Wolves demolished the Falcons 35-6 last fall.

The trophy, which features each team’s logo — and a big dent courtesy of a pissed-off South Whidbey coach who kicked The Bucket after losing the rivalry game years ago — has been in play since 2008.

It was the brainchild of Smith and Patton in response to an incident at a volleyball match, where a Coupeville student filled a bucket with water and dumped it on South Whidbey fans, setting off a near-riot.

Looking to turn a negative into a positive, the duo transformed the weapon of mass hydration into a trophy, cementing their places in Whidbey athletic lore.

Read Full Post »

“She has been leading with vision and heart”

Posted in Administration, tagged Becky Cays, Coupeville High School, Dan Berard, Geoff Kappes, principal on May 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

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.”

Read Full Post »

Principal/CTE Director resigns

Posted in Administration, tagged Coupeville School District, Dan Berard, principal, resignation, Shannon Leatherwood 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

Read Full Post »

Another CHS principal placed on administrative leave

Posted in Administration, tagged Coupeville schools, Dan Berard, paid administrative leave, principal, Shannon Leatherwood 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: