Alumnus Follows His Calling to a Thriving Career in Educational Leadership
Casey Yeazel, M.A. ’01, didn’t see himself moving into educational leadership when he first became a teacher. But a good mentor, a few serendipitous experiences, and his natural abilities compelled him toward a series of school leadership roles as his career evolved. Today, as president of St. Bernard College Preparatory High School in Los Angeles’ Westchester neighborhood, he is guiding the school community through a key period of renewal and revitalization.
He began his career in 1996 as a Catholic school teacher in primary education, serving in that role for eight years. “While I always saw myself as a classroom educator for young students, one of my early mentors gifted me another perspective that ‘you can still be a teacher in a leadership role by collaborating with and serving faculty and staff.’ The most effective leaders take a service-oriented approach,” said Yeazel. “That was my ‘aha’ moment. I could be a force multiplier with broader impact as an educational leader.”