Next school year, an administrative shuffle will put new faces in some of the highest positions at Kearsley.

Mrs. Patti Yorks, a lifelong Kearsley student who made her way up to being the superintendent, will retire after 29 long years.

Effective July 1, 2018, Mr. Kevin Walworth, current assistant superintendent, will take York’s current position as superintendent.

Finally, Mr. Paul Gaudard, current athletics director, will take Walworth’s current position as assistant superintendent.

Yorks will miss the Kearsley community, but is confident Walworth will do a great job.

“I’ll miss the people — the students as well as the staff — that I have worked with for so long,” Yorks said. “I feel very confident in retiring, just knowing that Kearsley will be in good hands with Kevin (Walworth) taking over.”

Walworth believes he is prepared.

“I’m ready for it,” Walworth said. He said working with Yorks has been “very natural since a lot of decision making has been hand in hand.”

Yorks agrees with Walworth.

“He was a Kearsley student,” Yorks said, adding that Walworth has also worked at Kearsley as a teacher and a principal. “He has a true love for this district,” she said.

Walworth has two objectives that he wants to complete as the superintendent. He said he wants to improve school safety and increase communication with parents and students.

As for Mr. Paul Guardard becoming assistant superintendent,  Walworth and Yorks agree on moving Gaudard to the administration building.

Walworth said Gaudard has “lots of experience for what this job deals with.”

“He deals with finance, oversight of transportation, and overseeing personnel,” Walsworth said about Gaudard’s new position.

Walworth likes Gaudard’s business background and said Gaudard is intelligent, a hard woker, and “he has all of the pieces to be successful.”

Yorks agreed with Walworth.

“I think he is an excellent choice,” Yorks said. “Paul is probably the hardest working person I know. (He is) honest, dedicated, caring and his educational background is stellar.”

Finding a replacement athletics director is the biggest challenge, according to Walworth.

“Finding a strong AD will be a challenge. It will have the biggest affect on the district,” Walworth said. “Guadard’s shoes will be hard to fill.”

Gaudard said he is looking forward to the opportunity, but he will miss the athletes and students from the high school.

“I’m definitely excited for this opportunity and the new challenge that this job will present,” Gaudard said. “I’ll miss the students I work with on a regular basis.”

Reflecting on the difference between the job he is leaving and the one he will take, Gaudard said he’ll have more responsibility.

“Right now, I’m a building administrator. Over there, I’ll be a district administrator,” Gaudard said. “I will have six buildings to oversee, including the Pumpkin Patch.”

Gaudard is looking forward to working with Walworth.

“Mr. Walworth has been a great mentor,” Gaudard said. “I’m ready to work side by side with him. He will be an asset to me.”

Mr. Chad Langworthy, school board secretary, thinks the changes are going to be positive.

“As sad as it was when Mrs. Yorks announced her retirement, I am excited to see where Mr. Walworth will lead the district,” Langworthy said. “As a Kearsley graduate and long-term employee,  I believe he will be fully committed to our district. I think the new administration team will continue to lead Kearsley in the right direction.”

Yorks said she is happy to have been a part of this district.

“I’ve loved my time here at Kearsley from being a student here to becoming a superintendent,” Yorks said. “I feel blessed being a part of this district for a lifetime.”