"We are blessed to add two excellent K-12 educators to our team,” commented Don Dudley, superintendent of schools for the Southeastern California Conference. “Both love kids and hold teachers in the highest regard.” They fill vacancies created several months ago when Beverly MacLaughlin retired and Martha Havens moved to the Pacific Union office of education.

The new associates joined the staff last summer and speak enthusiastically about their new responsibilities.

“Working in public schools for the past eight years,” Boyatt said, “I had many beautiful Christians as co-workers. But I was ready for a change. Then this opportunity came along. It’s a new challenge. The diversity in this conference is exciting, and I love working with this stellar group of people, both in the office and at the schools.”

With 30 years of experience, much of it in the Pacific Northwest, Boyatt has taught in small and large schools and served as principal of the Tualatin Valley Junior Academy in Oregon. Recently, she taught fourth and fifth grades for the Riverside Unified School District. She holds a master’s degree in administration from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla College.

Beverley Bucknor recently served as principal of Northeastern Academy in Manhattan, N.Y. She studied at Dudley Teachers College in England, earned a bachelor’s degree from Atlantic Union College, and a master’s degree in teaching elementary education from Andrews University.

“I never expected to move to California!” Bucknor said. “But as I interviewed with members of the staff, I realized that Southeastern California Conference is one of the forerunners in Adventist education.”

During the past 25 years she has taught in small and large schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. “It’s hard not to be with children every day,” she said, “but I’m energized as I visit teachers and schools and see all that they are accomplishing.”

The primary focus for Boyatt’s work is elementary curriculum and child care development centers. She represents the office of education on school boards for the Azure Hills Children’s Discovery Center, El Cajon, Hemet, Laguna Niguel, Loma Linda Children’s Center, Oceanside, and Orangewood Academy.

Bucknor is focusing on teacher mentoring, technology, and is the project coordinator for multi-grade school events. She represents the office of education on school boards at Calexico, Mesa Grande, San Diego, Twenty-Nine Palms, Yucca Valley, Valley Christian School, and Valley Fellowship.