CCISD names Jeffers to be interim super

Former high school principal Larry Jeffers has taken the reins of Clarendon CISD as interim superintendent following a February 19 called meeting of school trustees.

Jeffers has 46 years of experience in education with 27 of those as the principal of Clarendon High School before retiring about five years ago.

CCISD has not had consistent top leadership since superintendent Jarod Bellar retired last summer. The first interim appointment backed out before he started. A second interim, Rick Teran, was hired in July and was named the full-time superintendent in October. He eventually added the role of head girls’ basketball coach to his duties but then resigned suddenly in February due to what he called rumors and innuendos.

Jeffers said things have been “hard on the district” and said he was happy to lend a hand when he was approached by board president Wayne Hardin.

“I couldn’t turn down helping the district,” Jeffers said.

As interim superintendent, Jeffers says he’s only in the office two days a week mostly to help with finances, paying bills, and personnel.

Jeffers said he is trying to follow a philosophy of “do no harm” and says there are “some fires to be put out in a professional manner.”

Jeffers sees retention of personnel and getting certified teachers as the challenges facing the district.

“We have 14 teachers currently who are not certified,” he said. “All of them are in the program [to get certified] or have temporary certifications. We became a District of Innovation several years ago, which allowed us to hire uncertified teachers as long as they were on a path to certification. But now the state says you can’t hire teachers in K through five that aren’t certified in math and reading.”

Jeffers said rural districts have trouble attracting new certified teachers.

Financially, Jeffers believes the district is in good shape and says they are just starting to look at the budget for next year.

“I’ve learned that high school principal was a much easier job than superintendent,” Jeffers said. “Fortunately, I have a great staff helping me, and I can call on the [Region 16] Service Center, TASB [the Texas Association of School Boards] and [former CCISD superintendent] Monty Hysinger.”

TASB is also handling the search for the next fulltime superintendent, Jeffers said. The job has been posted, and applications are due April 1 and will be reviewed April 9. Interviews are then scheduled to take place starting in mid-April.

Jeffers said spring is a good time for a school to be looking for a new superintendent.

“It’s a good time for many people who may be trying to rise through the ranks and for newly certified superintendents,” he said. “Movement of superintendents often occur this time of year.”