By Abigail Starr
“The best part of my role as principal is to have the opportunity to interact with students and staff every day. I love watching each of our student activities, admiring the talent, and seeing hard work pay off.” -Dr. Bob Jerome
BSSD has announced more administrative changes coming in the fall to BSHS. Dr. Bob Jerome will move to Central Office as Assistant Superintendent. Associate Principal Tom Alderman will fill Jerome’s position in August, eager to continue BSHS record of high achieving students and staff.
“We will most definitely miss Dr. Jerome. He has played such a big role in the connections made at this school as a former student himself, and the administrative team has always been able to look to him for resolve and new ideas. With that being said, I know I have big shoes to fill but he’s certainly fit me well for them,” Alderman said.
When Alderman steps in as head principal, Assistant Principal Wendell Fuimaono will become associate principal.
“Mr. Alderman has provided a tremendous example of how to fulfill the responsibilities as Associate Principal as did Dr. Jerome when he served in the Associate role.” Fuimaono said.
Fuimaono hopes to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible to continue the consistency that the current admin team has provided for several years.
“Dr. Jerome has been a fantastic teammate, leader, and friend. I’ll miss Dr. Jerome being a part of the camaraderie within our Admin team. Our team has been together for a long time and have experienced a lot here at BSHS,” Fuimaono said.
With an assistant principal position open after Fuimaono’s move, BSHS will bring back former Wildcat Dustin Spencer. Currently, Spencer is an assistant principal at Lee’s Summit North High School; he has formerly filled roles in BSSD as a Jag principal and football coach. Fuimaono knows Spencer’s familiarity with the district will ease the transition for everyone.
“Mr. Spencer and I go way back. He and I were both James Walker Warriors and pretty good friends in elementary school. I was excited to hear that he was going to be a member of the BSHS admin team. He’s a BSHS graduate and has served in Jamaica with the football teams while on the South coaching staff. It will be good for him to be back in purple and gold,” Fuimaono said.
As students and staff wish Jerome farewell, he finds it easy to reflect on his time at BSHS and know that it will always be his home. With years spent in the building as both a student and administrator he knows the significance of the Wildcat bond.
“My focus heading into my new role will remain centered around supporting students and staff. The Blue Springs School District has always been the leading district in the area and the state. I hope to not only maintain but help build upon that success,” Jerome said.
No matter what comes next, he’ll always be grateful to the students and staff who have been a part of his journey so far.
“Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!” Jerome said.
