Former associate dean David Hawk was named the new interim dean of students during a special board of education meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The position opened after former dean Alana Laury was appointed as the interim director of equity due to Corrie Wallace‘s resignation last year.

Hawk, a former student at West, believes that the change from associate dean to dean will be difficult, but a positive change, nonetheless.

“The switch from associate dean of students to dean of students has been a positive change for me, one that I have been looking forward to! I think the biggest difference will be in the roles themselves and how I adapt to the change,” Hawk said.

According to Hawk, the positive and supportive staff will make the job change much easier for him.

“Accepting this position was really exciting but a little scary at the same time,” Hawk said. “When things are truly new, you can never be fully prepared and there is always a learning curve, but I work with an extremely supportive team which makes the transition much less stressful.”

Hawk will be taking over the students that Laury leaves behind for her new position. Some students that had Laury as their dean recognize Hawk from his work in attendance and have high expectations for him as their dean.

“I think Hawk will make students care more about attendance, knowing his prior position. I think that it’ll be hard for him to keep up with all of the work and things that Laury’s left behind, but he’ll be a great contribution to the students that have him now,” junior Alejandro Vargas said.

Hawk got the position by applying online when the opening was posted to the district’s website.

“[The position] was posted on the district website, and I applied as soon as it was,” he said. “Becoming a dean here at West has been a goal of mine, and there was no way I could pass on the opportunity.”

Overall, Laury has high expectations for Hawk, expecting him to nurture a sense of teamwork with counselors and to be a mentor and guide among students.

“My expectations for him are to ensure school safety and to contribute to work as a team member with the counselors and work with the students as a guide,” Laury said. “I think he will be amazing. He already knows the majority of the students being that he worked in the attendance office. I think he’ll do a wonderful job.”

Since this job is an interim position, Hawk will have to apply again next year for the permanent post.