Vierling C. Kersey Sr. (January 28, 1890 – February 29, 1980) was an American educator and politician who served as the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction and as the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.[1]
Vierling C. Kersey | |
|---|---|
 Kersey in 1935 | |
| Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District | |
| In office February 1, 1937 – August 1, 1948 | |
| Preceded by | Frank A. Bouelle |
| Succeeded by | Alexander J. Stoddard |
| California State Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office February 11, 1929 – February 1, 1937 | |
| Preceded by | William John Cooper |
| Succeeded by | Walter F. Dexter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 28, 1890 New Jersey |
| Died | February 29, 1980 (aged 90) Los Angeles, California |
| Spouse |
Flora Myrtle Hommer (m. 1908) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Los Angeles State Normal School (BA, MA) |
Early life and education
editKersey was born on January 28, 1890, in New Jersey to Richard Wakefield Keysey and Abbie L. Brewer. He attended Los Angeles State Normal School, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1916 and a master's degree in 1921.
Career
edit.jpg)
Prior to becoming State Superintendent, Kersey was a teacher and later principal of multiple schools.[2][3] Kersey was appointed by governor C. C. Young to succeed William John Cooper as the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He took office on February 11, 1929, being elected to a full term in 1930 and re-elected in 1934. In 1936, Kersey was elected as Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District after incumbent Frank A. Bouelle resigned due to ill health.[4][5] In 1949, Keysey was selected to become the principal of Van Nuys High School and the director of the Los Angeles Valley College. In 1955, Kersey was elected as the first vice president of the San Fernando Valley Youth Foundation.[6]
Personal life
editKersey married Flora Myrtle Hommer on November 21, 1908, in Santa Ana, California, with the two having two children, Vierling Kersey Jr. and Myrtle Evelyn Kersey. He died on February 29, 1980, in Los Angeles.
References
edit- ^ Hendrick, Irving J. (1974). "California's Response to the "New Education" in the 1930's". Vol. 53, no. 1. California Historical Quarterly. JSTOR 25157484.
- ^ "Inventory of the Department of Education Records". Online Archive of California.
- ^ Industrial Education Magazine. Vol. 26. Manual Arts Press. 1924. p. 351.
- ^ "Kersey [...] as New Head of Schools". Los Angeles Times. September 4, 1936.
- ^ "Education: Supt. Kersey Goes to War". Time. April 13, 1942.
- ^ "Dr. Vierling Kersey Accepting Valley Yough Foundation Post". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. August 18, 1955.