Special to NKyTribune
With a new school year brings newly painted walls, freshly waxed floors, and returning teachers and administrators to Beechwood Elementary and High School. There are also a few role changes and new faces joining the leadership teams in the high school and athletic department.
Former High School Assistant Principal Justin Kaiser stepped up to the plate to assume the High School Principal role when it opened up at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Sarah Schobel joined the Beechwood team and became the new High School Assistant Principal and Ryan Booth, already a teacher at Beechwood and formerly the Assistant Athletic Director, became the new Athletic Director.
Justin Kaiser, a Beechwood alumni, is the first former student to take on the role as High School Principal and he is looking forward to moving the school forward even more.
“I hope to bring a positive professionalism that allows our school to evolve while holding true to the values of Beechwood and Fort Mitchell,” said Kaiser.
Joining the Beechwood team
After graduating from Beechwood and moving on to college, Kaiser spent ten years at Covington Independent Schools as a biology teacher, a behavior coach, and the high school assistant principal. He explains his time at Covington helped shape him into the person and administrator he is today.
Sarah Schobel joins Beechwood from Thornwilde Elementary School in Boone County where she worked as a Reading and Math Specialist as well as the Response to Intervention Coordinator.
Schobel has her goals set on not only maintaining the tradition of excellence that Beechwood is so well known for, but also on growing the students there and providing them with a progressive, top-notch education.
“The opportunity to be a part of one of the best institutions in the state of Kentucky is truly a blessing,” said Schobel. “My biggest goal for the year is to serve the students, staff, families, and community, so that our students have the optimal preparation for success in life after high school.”
Like Kaiser, Ryan Booth has been a fixture at Beechwood for many years before assuming his new role.
This will be his sixth year at Beechwood and his ninth in his education career. Prior to coming to Beechwood, Booth spent time at Newport Independent Intermediate and Shelby East Middle School. Currently he is the Health and PE Teacher for ninth grade students and also teaches a fitness and weight management class for upperclassman. He coaches boys golf and JV basketball.
As the Athletic Director, Booth hopes to help make the experience of being an athlete at Beechwood the best it possibly can be and to eliminate any obstacles that high school athletes can often face. He credits the students, their families, and the school as the reason Beechwood is the place that it is and the reason he joined the team.
“The tremendous community support of the schools and the rich tradition of helping students succeed is what drew me to Beechwood,” Booth said. “But, my favorite part about being here is, without a doubt, the students.”
When asked why he came back to Beechwood and why he has remained, Kaiser’s answer echoed Booth’s sentiment.
“The students. They are remarkable. It is why I do what I do.”
