This story was written by Lia Salvatierra, our new Education Reporter. Find more of Lia’s reporting here. Do you have an NKY education story? Email lsalvatierra@linknky.com.
Justin Kaiser believes Beechwood Independent School’s commitment to excellence helped steer him toward his mission as the district’s newest superintendent.
It’s been a year since the 1998 Beechwood High School graduate stepped into the position, becoming the first alumnus to hold the job.
Despite being a fourth-generation graduate, the road didn’t always lead back to Beechwood for Kaiser, who studied biology and chemistry and had planned to become a dentist like his father.
He changed his mind and direction during orientation for dental school, deciding to instead begin coaching football with his former Beechwood coach at Turpin High School in Ohio.
He got his start in Northern Kentucky by coaching football and basketball at Covington Independent Schools before joining the classroom in 2005 after getting his master’s in teaching from Northern Kentucky University. His wife Angela is also an NKU graduate and teacher at Notre Dame Academy.
“I grew more in that one year of my first year teaching than I have in maybe the other 46 years of life combined,” Kaiser said.
He loved the classroom, but was quickly tapped as a leader.
His superintendent asked him to become a behavior consultant for the district after a three-year streak of not referring any kids out of the classroom, mystifying his peers.
When his superintendent asked what he was doing differently, he responded, “‘I have no idea. Just teaching.’”
“‘Well, you’re gonna teach everybody what you do,’” he told Kaiser.
After a decade climbing the ladder in Covington, eventually becoming assistant principal at Holmes High School, Kaiser started getting calls from Beechwood High School’s principal asking him to come on board.
His family was looking to move to Fort Mitchell, his son was starting kindergarten and Kaiser wanted an administrative job that would allow him to see his kids more regularly.
It was a family decision that all lined up, he said.
He started as Beechwood High School assistant principal and athletic director in 2015, quickly becoming principal and the director of operations for the district in 2023.
Beechwood’s board of education hired Kaiser as superintendent last year, following a nationwide search to replace outgoing Superintendent Dr. Mike Stacy, who was permanently barred from renewing his certification to work in Kentucky schools.
Kaiser views his role as superintendent as temporary, one where he makes the best decisions for Beechwood’s current moment rather than aiming to helm the district forever. Kaiser has a four-year contract through June 2029
“I am not doing this job today for a second contract; I’m doing this job for today,” he said.
Within his guaranteed four years, he’s working through a three-year strategic plan that started last year.
He’s proud of both the strides Beechwood is making and the traditions it upholds.
One thing has remained the same from when he was a student to when he became superintendent: Friday nights.
“They’re a throwback to what life was like in the 70s or 60s,” Kaiser said.
“Every aspect of Beechwood is on display. It’s not just football,” he said.
The weekly fall spectacle also highlights the school’s premier band program, which his son is part of as a three-time All-State tuba player, he said.
Kaiser isn’t a musician himself, but a music lover — an undercover Deadhead and Phish fanatic who dresses in a crisp blue suit on a muggy July day.
During his career, he’s routinely shared songs of the week in community and staff newsletters.
Kaiser is proud of checking off goals from the strategic plan during his first year, including seeing through final phases of construction for some Beechwood High School facilities. Construction for other amenities are scheduled to wrap up this fall.
He also aimed to make Beechwood salaries more competitive, awarding large raises last year.
Still, he believes there’s more work to do this year, considering Beechwood teacher salaries remain among the lowest of Northern Kentucky school districts.
Kaiser also addressed promises of better transparency and communication he made during his first board of education meeting as superintendent following Stacy’s exit.
“Although we did not have any major crises or issues this year to be able to demonstrate that transparency, I know that if anything arises, people will feel well informed and honestly informed,” he said.
Other goals in the strategic plan this year include things like embedding community service as part of the student experience and reevaluating the district’s “digital culture.”
Beechwood is currently leading conversations on artificial intelligence in the education sector at recurring AI Summit for Educators events.
“I will do my best to make this place better than when I received it,” Kaiser said.
“Beechwood will always be here. It was here before me, it will be after, and I hope I can do it justice,” he said.
