After 34 years in public education, I retired in 2022. My retirement was never intended to be permanent. I knew I would be back. I just didn’t know when or where. Custer County is that place, and the time is now. I enjoyed my time as a retired administrator, but I missed the rush of working with dedicated people doing meaningful work. I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of this team, in this place, at this time, working for and with the students, staff, and community to prepare our students for life beyond graduation.
My experience has been in small rural schools. Within that niche, I have been successful as a superintendent in two districts. Small Schools require that people wear many hats. While it can be challenging at times, it is an aspect that I enjoy. I am familiar with all aspects of small school education. As a teacher, I taught classes ranging from 7th-grade Life Science to Dual Credit Psychology. I have been a coach, athletic director, principal, and, most recently, superintendent. I have experience in food service, transportation, Title programs, school law, budgeting, and many other areas. In Swink, I helped apply for and manage a Best grant for a new roof and HVAC. I applied for and won another BEST grant to update the school's fire alarm and other systems, but retired before the project began. If CDE has a title or an acronym for it, I have probably been that person. DAC, LAM, Homeless Liaison; there is no aspect of education in a small school that I do not have experience with.
Successful small school educators have the mindset that being in a small school is not just a job, it is a way of life. For those who understand and adopt that mindset, the work can be very rewarding. Being a successful small school administrator means modeling that “way of life” approach. When everyone feels they are part of a team working in the service of something important, good things tend to happen. I have had the good fortune to lead districts that have won multiple ESSA Distinguished School awards; one at Walsh and two at Swink, including a National Blue Ribbon School award at Swink. In addition, in both districts, we earned multiple John Irwin School of Excellence awards. I know what excellence looks like and how to build an environment that promotes it.
My “hat” collection isn’t limited to education. While working my way through school, I drilled for oil, cut wheat, built bridges, built miles of 4-wire fence, and worked at jobs too numerous to mention. I look forward to putting my eclectic collection of hats to work for the students of the Custer County School District.
Kyle Hebberd
Interim Superintendent
Custer County School District