Justin Kaiser became superintendent of Beechwood Independent on July 1. Photo courtesy Justin Kaiser
(FORT MITCHELL, KY) – Before he ever considered leading a school district, Justin Kaiser’s sights were set on dental school. However, his path shifted when he found himself coaching football and, in the process, discovered a deeper calling in education.
Kaiser attended dentistry school and quickly decided he did not enjoy it. He returned home and told his father, who is a dentist, that he no longer wanted to follow in his footsteps. With understanding and support, Kaiser said his father encouraged him to explore other careers.
“I ended up coaching football and fell in love with coaching and being around kids and students, and (because of) just the energy from that experience, I knew I wanted to do something like this,” Kaiser said.
Now serving as the new superintendent of Beechwood Independent, Kaiser said his early teaching years, spent in Covington and Beechwood, shaped his understanding of what a good school means to students, families and the community.
“In Covington, it was a kind of reshaping of my mindset on the world, on education, on humanity. I taught and coached football and basketball in Covington. But then my alma mater, Beechwood, came calling,” Kaiser said.
The transition from classroom teacher to administrator wasn’t just a professional shift; it was a personal one. Kaiser said moving into leadership reshaped how he viewed the support students and educators need to thrive. Relationship-building and understanding the individual needs of each person in the district have become a top priority in his approach.
“Humans need pretty much the same things. Whether they’re small humans or grown humans, they need the same stuff … what you need to do primarily is build relationships and from there you get to grow people and identify leaders,” he said.
Kaiser said he believes you cannot build up students and staff without understanding who they are. He said to be an effective administrator, you must prioritize relationship building and continue to rely on passion, enthusiasm and connections you’ve made.
Kaiser said throughout his career he follows the three Ps: professionalism, positivity and progression. He said the superintendent’s role includes more than overseeing curriculum, and you become a bridge between the school and the larger community. He said he values collaboration, and he plans to focus on bringing together educators, families and local stakeholders to build a shared vision for student success.
As he begins his tenure, Kaiser said he’s focused on maintaining what makes Beechwood unique while ensuring it remains responsive to a rapidly changing world. His leadership vision is centered around the Beechwood slogan, “An innovative education grounded in tradition.”
“We have a great historical school community here. I want to make sure that we don’t lose sight of that,” Kaiser said.
Kaiser said he hopes to be remembered not only for decisions made or policies implemented, but for the spirit with which he led. He aims to be an optimistic presence who leads with professionalism, compassion and integrity.
“To know that I was honest and I say what I mean, and I mean what I say, and I cared about them,” Kaiser said.
Throughout his journey, Kaiser credits his wife and family as a constant source of support, providing encouragement and grounding among the demands of his personal and professional endeavors.
“These careers we chose sometimes blur the line between career and life … I’m a believer that if you don’t take care of your personal life, your professional life will suffer,” Kaiser said.
Kaiser also wants to recognize the contributions of classified staff, highlighting their essential role in keeping the district running smoothly behind the scenes. From transportation to custodial services, Kaiser said he sees every staff member as a vital source of Beechwood’s success.
“The classified (staff members) are the ones that just keep it all together so teachers and administrators can do their job,” he said.
Kaiser officially began his role July 1.
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