School District Gets New Superintendent

After nearly 30 years in education, John D. Carlyle has reached the top of his career. He was appointed by trustees last week to superintendent, stepping into Centralia School District’s highest administrative post.

“It’s the kind of thing you look forward to,” said Carlyle, 56. “It’s the top position in our field. You kind of have your eyes on that’s what you want to do someday.”

Carlyle, who started his career as a teacher in 1964, and has served as the district’s assistant superintendent since 1986, said his new role “has got to be the highlight of my professional career.”

Since August, Carlyle has served as interim superintendent after former superintendent, Patricia Clark White, left to accept a job in a San Diego County school district.

Board of Trustees President Karen Blake said Carlyle has been a leader in the district and was the prime candidate for the job.

“He knew what was going on in the district and he knew where we wanted to go and how to get there,” Blake said. “When you have someone who is in-house that already knows what you want, why not go with him?”

She also said it would have cost the district between $12,000 and $15,000 to search for a new superintendent.

Blake said the board unanimously voted to hire Carlyle, who will earn $86,000 a year, excluding benefits and use of a district car.

Carlyle, an Anaheim resident, began working in the district in 1982, serving as principal of Glen Dysinger Sr. Elementary School for four years before moving up to assistant superintendent.

The district has nine elementary schools in Buena Park, Anaheim and La Palma.

During the past 11 years, Carlyle said, he has developed a positive working relationship with district employees, parents and trustees. He has been a leader in various areas, including the district’s Vision 21 Strategic Planning Task Force to plan education into the future.

He said his efforts will continue to focus on being “as effective as we can be to work with young people to become productive citizens in our society.”

Carlyle said he chose education because of the influence one can have in a child’s life. “You can make a significant difference in the lives of people when you teach,” he said.

After serving in the Navy from 1955 to 1959, Carlyle didn’t return to his native Kansas City, Mo. Instead, he remained in Orange County and attended the former Santa Ana College, now Rancho Santiago College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1964 from California Western University in San Diego.

Following graduation, Carlyle began his teaching career in the Fountain Valley School District, leaving there after four years to accept an admissions counselor position at United States International University in San Diego.

He served as director at the university until 1973, when he returned to the Fountain Valley School District to become a principal. Serving for six years as principal of two different schools, Carlyle became an administrator for the Ontario-Montclair School District before coming to the Centralia School District.

Carlyle, who holds doctorate and master’s degrees in education, said his priority is to “make this the best district it can possibly be. That’s my desire, and that’s my goal.”