Originally posted to the web in News, on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:22 AM CST.
Suverkrup returns to school board
By Patti Jares, Staff Writer
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| Hank Suverkrup |
After months of wondering who would take the third seat on the Wickenburg school board in January, Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Sandra Dowling announced that former Wickenburg School District Superintendent and Board Member Hank Suverkrup has accepted an appointment to the board.
Early this fall it was announced that terms were up for School Board Members Curtis Arnett, Valarie Shumway and Verne Crissman. With school board elections cancelled, Arnett, who wished to continue on the board, was re-appointed. Wickenburg resident Joe Maglio gained the other seat through a write-in appointment, but the third seat sat glaringly empty.
When Suverkrup was recently contacted by Dowling and asked to take the seat, he agreed.
Suverkrup has a list of reasons explaining why he accepted the appointment, but it comes down to a genuine love of serving in an educational capacity, and desiring to make a difference.
“Education is really my north star,” acknowledged Suverkrup. “It has been all my life.”
With 52 years of experience, Suverkrup will bring a treasure of leadership and insight to the Wickenburg School Board.
Earning his bachelor of science in administration from Iowa’s University of Dubuque, Suverkrup went on to earn a master’s in administration from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
For nearly 30 years, Suverkrup served as Superintendent of Schools for Yuma’s Crane School District, and then accepted a position as director of operations in Phoenix for the Greater Phoenix Curriculum Instructional Development Services Operations, consisting of 13 elementary districts, and the Phoenix Union High School District.
After serving in the elected office of Yuma County Superintendent of Schools, Suverkrup accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools for Wickenburg School District in 1985, where he served for 15 years.
Currently, Suverkrup spends summers in Iowa, teaching graduate classes in management, MBA (Masters of Business Management) and policy at the University of Dubuque, and while in Arizona he supervises administrative interns at Northern Arizona University - men and women seeking administrative credentials to become superintendents and principals. He also teaches classes at Webster University and is a certified coach for the Wallace Foundation/Arizona State Department of Education.
Suverkrup resides in Wickenburg during the winter with his wife Frieda, who enjoys engaging him in conversation about his career. According to Suverkrup, she is always interested.
Admitting he is glad to be back, Suverkrup emphasized his love of education.
“Education has always fascinated me,” he grinned. “It’s one of those things - sometimes when you retire you don’t connect with what you did all your life - when it’s over it’s over. Not education; it’s never over. It’s always there.”
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