Watersmeet gives Pease a chance as superintendent

WATERSMEET - The Watersmeet Township School District has a new superintendent for the 2015-'16 school year.

Gerald Pease was born in southern Illinois and spent most of his adult life in Montana.

While in Montana, Pease said he was professor at Montana State University in the university's leadership program and an administrator before coming to Watersmeet.

Growing up, Pease said his family often visited the area and thought it would be a nice place to live. Over the last several years, he said he has been wanting to move closer to home and he got his wish.

"It's a wonderful feeling to be selected," Pease said.

Before Pease was selected, current school principal George Peterson served as superintendent and principal simultaneously.

"I won't lie, it was a handful," Peterson said.

During the 2014-'15 school year, Sandra Robinson, the district's business manager, resigned.

Peterson said the school board then asked if the district should revert to a traditional administration format and hire a superintendent.

"I welcomed it with open arms," Peterson said. "It was a breath of fresh air. We're going to miss Sandy, though."

By serving only as school principal, Peterson said he can focus on what's most important to him.

"Now I'm going to concentrate on helping our youth," he said. "I want to do whatever it takes to make them successful."

In the future, Peterson said Pease will serve as superintendent and business manager.

Pease said he looks forward to serving the school and is anxious to get to work.

"There's work to do as we change over from the administrative set-up as it was," he said. "George and I are working together to make sure we have a good year."

Pease said his co-workers are great to work with and the school has a lot of potential to be even better.