Fountain Valley : School District Honors Former Superintendent

Fountain Valley School District officials held ceremonies Thursday to rename the district’s administrative offices in honor of the late Supt. Edward W. Beaubier.

Beaubier, who died last May, was superintendent of the elementary school district from August, 1962, to August, 1969. When he became superintendent, Fountain Valley only had one school and 235 pupils. He formulated a master educational plan for the rapidly growing community, and by the mid-1970s, the district had reached a peak of 11,866 pupils and 19 schools.

Beaubier’s leadership was credited with bringing to the school district innovations such as the middle-school concept, instructional aides and parent volunteers.

Several current school superintendents in other districts were teachers or principals under Beaubier during his term as superintendent. These include Jerome Thornsley, superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District, and Billy Barnes, superintendent of Laguna Beach Unified School District.

In afternoon ceremonies, the school district officially named its administrative complex at 17210 Oak St. as the Dr. Edward W. Beaubier Education Center.