West County Superintendent Coffman retires
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After 32 years, 21 of them at West County, Dr. Kevin Coffman will retire on June 30. He leaves with the same enthusiasm he has brought to the job over his career, “I’ve been one of the most blessed people in education with all the experiences I’ve had,” he said.
Kevin graduated from Fredericktown High School and Southeast Missouri State University. He did his student teaching at Arcadia Valley Schools and it was there he met a great influence in his career, Jim Erpenbach, the middle school principal. “He was an icon. I really tried to model a lot after him when I became a principal and he just stayed with me,” said Coffman.
He then began his teaching career at Fredericktown, teaching middle school math and moving on to high school math. He said, “I was right there when everything broke technology-wise. I was in the right place at the right time and became the technology director.” He also was involved in coaching, first Special Olympics, then middle school football, some high school coaching, and then volleyball.
Coffman has enjoyed his time at West County, especially being part of the district’s growth. He has been instrumental in the changing face of West County with its modern facilities. “It’s been a fast 21 years! To be part of the new middle school, which is now 8 years old. It’s unbelievable. And then all the bond issues that got us there and to get to do the same thing now going forward to the elementary school,” said Coffman.
The elementary expansion will include new rooms, a new entrance into the elementary school completed in 1977, a multipurpose room, a storm shelter, and new traffic flow for parents and buses connecting the elementary with the middle and high school without having to enter highway M. The county has received a TAP grant which will build a sidewalk with curbs and lighting along M from the Leadwood city limits, past the high school to the elementary, giving the entire campus a new look and safer more secure walkway for students and community.
Coffman points to the pride the patrons of the district have in their school. “It’s that West County pride. They feel like their kids have as good a chance to be successful coming to West County as they do anywhere else. That’s a big dream and I think we deliver. But take that away, we’ve got the facilities and they’re wonderful, second to none.” Continuing, he said, “Then you look at all the other things, all the other successes we’re having through all of our programs. I don’t care if you’re talking about band, choir, or athletics. We had WCTV get a one at state. Our E-Sports was first in state and second in state this year. Our APR, which is our academics, is first in the MAAA. That’s something to be proud of as a community member.”
District stability is an asset often overlooked by the public when evaluating schools. Competitive salaries and a positive work environment can contribute to this and Coffman credits his predecessor, Stacy Stevens with establishing a success-inducing atmosphere. “For 16 years, we never changed an administrator and when you have people together for that length of time you know what they’re thinking, and they know what you’re thinking. He was very influential in just my thoughts and processes. He said, ‘Students will meet the expectations you set. It may not happen overnight but set high expectations and they’ll get there. Set low ones, and they’ll get there,” Coffman added. “He was always very supportive. He was a great mentor for those years. Financially, he was one of the best things that could have happened to West County.”
West County Superintendent Kevin Coffman will retire on June 30. Submitted photo
Coffman said, “I hope this is seen, we value everybody’s job. I don’t care if you’re a custodian or cook your value to the process is the same. If the kids aren’t fed, they’re not going to be able to be taught. If our facilities aren’t kept in proper order, students are not going to be able to be taught. Our bus drivers take care of themselves. If little Johnny misses the bus, another driver will say I’m right by the house. I’ll swing by and pick him up for you. It’s just a family-type team approach. Whenever I put out an email to the staff, I always start out with West County family, because that’s what it is. We spend more time with each other than we do our own family, but at the end of the day, I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.”
Coffman believes that being a small school has its advantages, as he said, “You’re going to get more programs at some other schools. But, if you want people to know your kids, and think about your kids. If you want your principal to know all the kids in the school by name, then West County is the school for you.”
Looking to the future, he said, “I think the future has an opportunity to keep on going up. I think it’s probably one of the best administrative staff we’ve had in quite a while. I think West County is going to be on a great path for a while, for a long while. I really do!”
Dr. Coffman will preside over his last board meeting on June 6 and will officially leave the building June 30. As to what the next chapter in his life holds for him, he is not sure. But educators like Kevin Coffman rarely sit still for long and, without looking, things have a way of finding them. You can be sure that whatever chapter he pursues; he will be enthusiastic and a positive force with which to be reckoned.
Dan Schunks is a staff writer for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at dschunks@dailyjournalonline.com.
