Date: Fri 22-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-Hexom-Middle-Gate

Full Text:

with cut: School Bd Hires A New Middle Gate Principal

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

In less than two weeks, Middle Gate School will welcome a new principal,

native Australian Gary Hexom, 51.

Mr Hexom has spent 28 years in education in the state of California, first as

a teacher in grades 2 through 12, and then as a school administrator.

He will step into the Middle Gate position Monday, December 2, enabling the

school's acting principal, Robert Kuklis, to return to his previous full-time

post as assistant superintendent of schools.

Mr Hexom was unanimously hired by the Board of Education November 14, after

what special committee member Margaret Hull called a "very short search" that

resulted in a consensus being reached quickly.

"We found that Gary Hexom would fit the bill perfectly. He's a person who will

be comfortable with teachers and parents alike, while projecting authority and

confidence," said Mrs Hull.

The search committee's goal had been to hire a new principal by the end of

December, according to Superintendent John Reed, but when they saw Mr Hexom's

extensive resume and after completing an extensive interview process, it

became obvious he was the person they wanted for the job.

Mr Hexom will start at $80,500 a year, which is about six percent below the

standard earning level for a principal in the system, but the terms of his

contract stipulate that he will gradually be brought up to full salary,

according to Board of Education Chairman Herb Rosenthal.

"Gary has a profound interest in children and derives much satisfaction from

working to help students and staff be the best they can be," Dr Reed stated in

a press release following his hiring.

That Mr Hexom would be able to start as early as December 2 was a real bonus,

Dr Reed said in a subsequent phone interview, referring to the fact that Gary

and Denise Hexom had just relocated from California to Connecticut this last

August.

Mr Hexom had been working in Sacramento, Calif., in administration for the

Natomas Unified School District as coordinator of alternative education and

principal of the Natomas Adult School.

When Mrs Hexom accepted her new job starting this August as superintendent of

schools in East Haven, the couple picked up stakes and moved east.

"She had followed me twice to Australia, once when I was teaching fourth grade

in Sydney and another time when I taught high school in Brisbane, so now it

was my turn," Mr Hexom said during an interview at Middle Gate last week.

He had stopped by the elementary school Friday, November 15, to meet staff

members and confer with Dr Kuklis before his scheduled return to California

for a few days, to help the couple's son, John, celebrate his 21st birthday.

An older son, Ben, 23, was married this summer and also lives in California.

While at Middle Gate, Mr Hexom took the opportunity explore the office and

talk to a few teachers, as well as sit down with school secretary Carol Lawson

for a debriefing session.

"I liked the first half hour," Mr Hexom joked as he made the rounds.

Born in Sydney, Mr Hexom spent his youth in Australia but moved with his

family to California in 1952.

He said his first sight of New York harbor is a memory he holds dear.

"We came from Australia the long way around, sailing to New York on the S.S.

United States . It was her maiden return voyage," Mr Hexom said.

His lifelong love of travel and communicating has led him to concentrate on

social studies and geography, in particular.

"Geography is what makes the world go round. It's more than just

`place-ography' or the study of physical maps. It's climate, crops, economy

and culture. People and their environment and how those things have affected

civilizations," he said.

"Oral language" is another important element that helps us understand not only

the broad subject of geography, but people in general, Mr Hexom said.

"The written word is important," he said, but oral communication gives us

those first, most important impressions of people. That's especially true when

dealing with children, he added.

"The most sophisticated and lengthy conversations happen on the playground!"

Mr Hexom said.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the parents and children next," he said,

adding that, already, he's excited at the prospect.

"We have a good thing going here [in Connecticut]. I'm impressed with the

level of commitment in this state to students," he said.