Former Teacher/Coach Returns As Superintendent

Kim Chrestman

Newly hired superintendent Kim Chrestman (right) taught social studies and was the girls’ basketball coach from 1987-1990. Above he is pictured with the players and managers from the 1988-89 high school Lady Devils. The group includes (front row, from left) Lisa Schmitz, Katina Brown, Charlene Horton, Marsha Gooch, Valery White, Shenetha Hervey and Shenail Cox; (second row) Linda Covington, Melba Mayes, Andrea Gaston, Shelia Bailey, Sharonda Hoskins, Sophia Drake, Doris Holmes, Pam Horton and Ch

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – Kim Chrestman has been named superintendent of the Water Valley School District and will assume his duties on July 1.

Chrestman, 55, was formally introduced by current Superintendent Dr. Deborah Moran during the regular third Monday of the month meeting of the school board Monday night.

“On behalf of the leadership and the faculty of Water Valley, I welcome you back to our district,” Moran said. “We are excited and look forward to your leadership.”

Chrestman was at Water Valley Junior High from fall 1987 through spring 1990. He taught 7th grade social studies and coached girls’ basketball and track. During his last year here he was head baseball coach and was an assistant football coach.

In a prepared statement issued earlier Monday, School Board President Lamar Burgess said that the new superintendent has broad experience in all aspects of school administration and a proven track record of improving graduation and completion rates.

“With his educational background and ideas for community building, we feel that the school system will continue to improve and be recognized as one of the top school systems within the state,” Burgess added.

According to the release, Chrestman began his education career at Vardaman High School as a teacher and coach.  After teaching and coaching for fifteen years at Vardaman, Pontotoc, Water Valley and Warren Central, he moved into educational administration with the Pontotoc County School District.  

He was subsequently employed by the Okolona School District as Vocational Director and Technology Coordinator for seven years.  He then assumed the duties of Alternative Program and Dropout Prevention Director for the Chickasaw County School District.

Chrestman earned his undergraduate degree from Delta State University in 1978 and his Masters degree from Delta State University in 1981.

After the meeting, Chrestman told the Herald that he left Water Valley after his wife, Amy, got a job with the Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg. “Water Valley was good to me,” he said. “I really wanted to stay.”

Ironically, it was Amy who came back to Water Valley first. She has been employed by BorgWarner for the past eight years, driving here daily from their home in Pontotoc. That two-hour roundtrip was one of the considerations for coming to Water Valley. He added it would be nice for both of them to live here.

“I’m going to move here…hopefully by the first of June if I can find something,” he said.

The Chrestmans have two daughters; Elizabeth, 19, and Anna, 17, who will be a senior next year at Pontotoc High School.

Chrestman said that he knows the question will come up about his daughter staying in Pontotoc for her last year of school. He said the School Board has given permission for her to graduate having already spent 12 years in Pontotoc system.

He added that Anna is very familiar with Water Valley and often comes to baseball and basketball games here. “She’s got good, close friends here in Water Valley.”

Chrestman said that his current contract is up the last day of May and he plans to spend as much time as possible with Dr. Moran. “She has been an excellent coach.”

“While I have been around many superintendents’ offices, this will be my first time as Superintendent. It will be a learning experience. Most Superintendents tell me it takes the first year just to learn how to be a Superintendent,” he added with a grin.

“I’ve been around administration and coaching, but this is the one thing that I had not done,” Chrestman commented on taking the job. “It’s been a direction I’ve wanted. I also had a lot of encouragement to move toward Superintendent of Education.”

“What made Water Valley attractive is how much I enjoyed it when I was here. I’ve got good friends here,” he said. “This community has always been one that I really enjoyed.”

Chrestman emphasized that he is going to need the support of the community to achieve the goals set for him. “The school board has made it very clear what they want me to address. That’s going to be our state testing scores, our QDI. They’re going to want me to work on the graduation rate and attendance. While Water Valley has several other areas I think we can improve, those are going to be my major focus.”