Panthers get their man Clark Keele hired as PHS band director
The process took a little longer than hoped, but Porterville High School has its next band director.
Porterville Unified School District Superintendent Ken Gibbs announced Tuesday after that former Porterville High band member Clark Keele has been hired to replace the retiring Jim Kusserow.
Keele will not start until January of 2018 and Kusserow, who led the Panther band for more than 25 years, has agreed to stick around through the fall as band director and then next spring as a mentor to the new chapter in the Panther Band’s storied history.
“He has his packet, he starts January 1,” said Gibbs. “I think he’s a good candidate and seems to be a good fit for us,” he added.
Gibbs said the district searched wide and far for the next band director, only the third at the school in more than 50 years. “He is willing to not only do all the work that is required, but he will stay to grow the program,” added the superintendent who is glad to see the search come to an end.
Kusserow announced his retirement about a year ago and a search began almost immediately. It was hoped to get a candidate before the year ended and Keele was strongly considered for the past couple of months, but the deal was not finalized until Tuesday.
“The nice thing for me is he understands the traditions of the program. That’s so important to me that those traditions are respected,” said Kusserow, who said he is thrilled with the choice and looking forward to working with the young man again. Kusserow was one of those who interviewed candidates.
Keele is a graduate of Porterville High School and was in the band for all four years, serving as drum major for a couple of years. He played tenor sax and oboe. He graduated in 2008.
“Oh, my gosh. Just great leadership qualities,” Kusserow said of his former student. He recalled the young man wore a tie to school every day.
“He was mature beyond his years in high school. A fantastic kid and a great student,” he added.
Kusserow feels it is important to bring back a former band member, just as the district did with him 27 years ago when he followed in the footsteps of Frank Buck Shaffer.
“My intentions are to be here as needed. I’m not going to be looking over his shoulder every day, but I’m going to be behind him 100 percent,” he said.
Keele is married with children. He still needs to finish up some studies at Brigham Young University and that’s why the January 1 start date.
“His little sister is in
the band. She’s going to be a sophomore. I guess she’s going to have to call him Mr. Keele,” Kusserow joked.
The new Panther
Band director is the son of Jeff and Elizabeth Keele of Porterville. Kusserow said they both work at Porterville College.