Kerby agrees to fill interim superintendent spot for WSD

 On the other hand, the timing was just right for the Kerbys to answer a call to Basin, Wyoming, a town with a population of around 1,300.

 “Connie and I were empty-nesters, so we went on an adventure in Wyoming,” he said. “It worked out well for a lot of reasons, and we enjoyed our seven years down there.”

 He said the first two years in his new position were interesting.

 “Nobody knew me, and I had no reputation, no credibility with anyone,” Kerby said. “It took a couple of years, and I was there for a full seven. I loved it. We enjoyed the people and working with the school board. It was a smaller school district, and there aren’t many big towns in Wyoming.”

 He said Connie didn’t work the first couple of years, but taught fifth grade again for the last five years they were there.

 “She loved it, too,” he said. “Teaching has always been her passion.”

 He said a couple of health issues helped him decide to retire in 2023.

 “We came back and bought a place in Meridian a year and a-half ago,” he said. “I’ve been back over to Weiser a few times since. I came over for a football game last fall.”

 He said his first official day on the interim superintendent job was supposed to have been Monday, Feb. 3.

 “I came over Tuesday (Jan. 28) and met with the school board, then ended up in meetings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so it’s been basically full time since,” Kerby said. “I’ve really enjoyed everything so far. There’s so many really, really good things going on. 

 “I see my job here, as the interim superintendent, to keep things rolling along, and hopefully help make this district ready and comfortable for the new superintendent coming in,” he added. “I’m just happy to be back to Weiser for now.”

 Even though their home is in Meridian, Kerby has the advantage of his sister and her husband living here, as well as his and Connie’s daughter.

 “They are wonderful people, so they’ve given me a key and said you stay here whenever,” he said. “So, I’ve been here a few nights. That clearly made this doable for me, plus, when things happen it’s better if you’re right here.”

 Kerby believes his experience in Basin will be helpful.

 “That, and my 20 years as principal, and my years in the classroom, for a total of 39 years in education,” he said. “I feel like I have some things to offer. And I went over to Park School the other day, and the first snow. I went out and kind of helped organize the sledding.”

 There’s likely not a single former Park student who attended there when Kerby was principal who doesn’t have memories of sledding and snow races.

 “Those kinds of things are just fun experiences for kids, sledding on the hill at Park School,” he said. “Everybody that’s gone through there has that memory. It was fun for me to be over there on the first day they had it this year.

 “I’ve been gone nine years, but I’ve seen a lot of teachers this week that were here prior to that,” Kerby said. “And, I’ve seen a few kids that went through Park School who are now working for the district. I feel very well connected as I walk around the schools. There’s people to catch up with and that’s been a lot of fun.”