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NEW SUPERINTINDENT SETTLING IN TO POSITION

By Jeannie Nugent/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, September 2, 2007 8:23 PM CDT

Two weeks into the school year, Danny Hazelwood is finally starting to feel comfortable in his new seat as superintendent of Watson Chapel School District.

A little apprehension is only natural, he said, given the fact that he’s filling the shoes of former superintendent Danny Knight.

“Replacing him probably is the scariest part of this job. I’m replacing a man that’s been here 25 years and he has managed this school to a point where everything is in good shape,” he said. “Everything from transportation to maintenance, it’s all been looked at. He’s been one of those great managers.”

Hazelwood, who was the Hazen School District superintendent for 12 years, was selected last spring out of six candidates vying for the top spot at Watson Chapel. Going from a small school with only about 600 students to one with more than 3,200 was initially intimidating, Hazelwood said, but it was Knight who put it all into perspective.

“He told me when I came on board that this is a management job and it’s really no different than what I’ve been doing. That’s the absolute truth. It’s really not any different from what I’ve been doing; there’s just a lot more of it,” he said. “That’s the real challenge. Where I had 50 employees, I’ve got 500 here.”

His reception has been welcoming and the school year started like a well-oiled machine, everything running smoothly with minimal problems — a fact he attributes to Knight’s legacy and strong planning by staff and faculty.

The 56-year-old Hazelwood stands well above 6 feet and his wide shoulders testify to his football days at the State College of Arkansas (now the University of Central Arkansas) in Conway. Even though an easy-going smile stays on his face, he admits that he can be a distraction when he strolls through the halls of the district’s campuses.

He’s been impressed with what he’s seen and the prevailing secure atmosphere.

“When you walk into our buildings, there’s a calming effect. When you see kids walking down the halls, they’re all dressed alike. They’re all smiling. It’s a good atmosphere. I think it’s because the kids feel secure in their building,” he said. “I’ve walked into other districts where it’s scary. You can tell the kids are afraid because of the criminal element that may or may not be in the building. Sometimes it’s just the rumor of it and that’s bad enough.”

That sense of security at Watson Chapel is something he is committed to maintaining. Discipline, while not always something that induces popularity, is essential to a successful school, he said.

“You have to be consistent with it and you have to support the people that enforce it,” he said. “As superintendent, if you’ve got good people in key positions, then that’s a pretty easy thing to do.”

Gaining the trust and support of the district staff — and encouraging ownership — is his top priority in management. He’s not a “boss-boss,” but more of a team captain.

“I’m a firm believer in being part of a decision-making team. All of my decisions are usually based on input from the people it affects. I’ve found that even though I have to make decisions that are hard decisions, I still try to get perspective from every angle before I make that decision,” he said. “I learned early on that you don’t make snap decisions in this business. You can’t. There are too many barrels. The best way for me to do it is to try to get everyone’s input that has to do with the decision. I kind of lead by committee.”

Inheriting a strong district from his predecessor put him ahead of the game, he said.

“There’s not anything major that is worrying me right now. We’re in good shape financially. Our physical plant has been taken care of. The district has been well managed for 25 years and I’ve just got to be careful not to mess that up.”

Still he said he’s excited about new opportunities in the district’s future. He wants to increase technology education, institute a distance learning lab and start a pre-kindergarten.

“My loyalties are here. This is the place that I want to excel. I want this place to be the best school in this area. I want us to continue to be innovative and progressive, to look at new things,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to invite those opportunities. We’ll see from here. I want to retire from Watson Chapel schools and I hope to expand and make this district even better.”

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