Clarendon CISD names Bellar as lone finalist

Clarendon new school superintendent will be no stranger to the community after beginning his education career here.

Jarod Bellar was named December 4 as the lone finalist for the top school position during a called meeting of the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees.

Bellar, who is currently the superintendent of Baird ISD east of Abilene, began his career as a junior high social studies teacher and coach in Clarendon in 1994.

“It’s a great time to reconnect,” Bellar said of coming back to Clarendon this week.

After spending two years at Clarendon Junior High, Bellar returned to his hometown of Sudan for three years and then moved to Olton. He later spent four years teaching at Springlake-Earth before moving up to the high school principal’s position for another four years.

Bellar and his family then moved to Baird in 2008, where he began as an elementary and middle school principal before taking the superintendent’s position there in 2011.

“I’ve kept up with Clarendon from a distance,” Bellar said. “The school has done well academically and athletically.”

The school’s reputation along with the close proximity to Canyon, where his son now plays football for West Texas A&M University, made it attractive for Bellar to apply for the superintendent’s position in Clarendon. He also said he believes the school will be a good fit for his daughter, who is a high school sophomore.

Bellar’s wife, Jenifer, is a school counselor and federal programs coordinator in Baird. She and their daughter will move to Clarendon after this school year is over.

“I just want to get to know everyone and learn the inner workings of the school and move forward as an even better district,” Bellar said. “The people here seem very welcoming and supportive.”

High school principal Larry Jeffers and elementary principal Mike Word were also here when Bellar was here in the 1990s, he said.

Last week’s unanimous board decision followed the third and final interview in a second round of meetings with top applicants, according to Interim Superintendent Mike Jackson.

“I think his prior experience here was a factor in his selection,” Jackson said. “When you have someone who knows the community, it says a lot.”

Bellar says January 6 is his tentative start date. School trustees must wait 21 days from last Wednesday to formally hire Bellar.