At its June meeting the West Sonoma County Union High School
District board of trustees presented Superintendent Keller McDonald
with the 2010 Becky Hopper Make a Difference Award.
In 1999, the board established the annual award, named after a
former trustee who is said to have set the standard upon which the
recognition is based. The Becky Hopper Award recognizes an
individual or a group of people whose dedication and service to
students far exceeds the requirements of their position or
affiliation with the WSCUHSD. In the past, the award has been given
to teachers, parents, students, coaches, and volunteers in the
community.
McDonald exemplifies what is behind the award, according to many
who work with the man tagged “a gentle giant” by trustee Jeanne
Fernandes.
“He really has been truly amazing. He has done so much to keep
us together. Lesser people would have walked away,” she said,
noting, the superintendent also has a great sense of humor and the
ability to lighten a mood with the “funniest little quip.”
“Keller has led the district through the worst financial crisis
in education and at the same time has maintained strong working
relationships with association and unrepresented groups,” said Mia
Del Prete, district staffing manager.
He respects input from others, and is “creative and forward in
his thinking” to come up with solutions that are best for the
organization as a whole, Del Prete said. Furthermore, his strong
work ethic is infectious and has earned him the respect of district
employees and educational leaders across the county, she said.
McDonald, who joined the district five years ago, has been
instrumental in restructuring the district office. Essentially, the
district eliminated several positions in its office and shifted
duties to the remaining positions to be more efficient.
For example, an assistant superintendent for business and
personnel, which combined both those operations under one person,
replaced a chief business officer.
Overall, the district has reduced almost one-third of the
full-time equivalent positions and the overall salary/benefit costs
of the district office, according to the superintendent. A
maintenance service person at Analy was also given more
responsibilities to encompass overall district maintenance director
duties.
McDonald said he also hopes to restructure the district office
facility by replacing the existing buildings – which no longer meet
earthquake standards for student classrooms – with buildings that
can be used for classrooms. He said the plan is to move the
community day school off of the Analy High School campus and locate
it with the district office to better meet state guidelines for day
school locations.
The same plan includes bringing the Analy Nursery School
facility up to classroom standards and integrating the nursery
school with the district office/community day school in a more
“environmentally friendly design.”
The “super”-intendant truly stepped up to the plate when, in
response to the state’s fiscal crisis, he refused a pay raise
during his evaluation with the board, and – along with Assistant
Superintendent Steve Jorgensen – volunteered to reduce his work
year by 10 days. Site administrators, the director of special
education, program specialists, classified managers and all
confidential staff volunteered to reduce their work year by five
days.
“He was the first one to do that, so he really set an example,”
Fernandes said of McDonald. “He really felt as a leader, you can’t
ask people to do what you are not willing to do.”
WSCUHSD Board President Diane Landry said she can’t think of
anyone who deserves the Becky Hopper award more than McDonald. “I
have worked with five superintendents and he is stellar,” she said.
“He is a natural leader. The board is most pleased about the whole
fiscal picture. He has shown exceptional proficiency because he is
able to plan for future eventualities, which has put the district
in a positive financial position. He is always looking ahead,” she
said, adding, the superintendent also has an open door policy, a
strong work ethic, a wholesome integrity, and “an incredible sense
of humor.”
