stakeholders to find the mission’s relevance in all of the district’s work provides a solid foundation for
his leadership. Whether it is in the classroom or custodial office; driving a bus or taking lunch money,
setting policy or coaching soccer; campaigning for a bond issue or building schools, our mission: We
Educate for Excellence...Empowering all students to achieve their educational goals, to direct their lives
and to contribute to society guides Dr. Keenan’s work and therefore the work of our staff.
Dr. Keenan does this through his strong, transforming leadership and ability to lead not only individuals,
but also the organization as a whole. Above all, when he refers to our mission, he doesn’t merely focus
on the “Excellence,” but more importantly for our over four-thousand students, he focuses on the “All
Students” ensuring that our policies, programs, and procedures provide all of our students with
opportunities to be challenged, supported, and successful in their goals. His strong sense of personal and
professional ethics guides his work at all levels.
Dr. Daniel J. Keenan Jr. has proven himself to be a visible and dedicated member of our school
community and the community at large. From the moment that the board of education offered him a
contract in June of 2007, Dr. Keenan became a part of the Westlake community. He immediately moved
his family to Westlake because he knew that if he wanted the community to be invested in and proud of
the schools, then he must be totally invested in the community.
If it involves the classroom, Dr. Keenan wants the students, families and staff to take ownership of their
classroom, their education and their future. If it involves the physical plant, Dr. Keenan again wants the
families and staff to take ownership, but he insures that the community as a whole is informed, involved
and invested as well. He does all of this by being available, night or day, to any community or staff
member who wishes to find out more, or offer suggestions and opinions.
When one meets with Dr. Keenan, one walks away knowing that his or her concern or suggestion has
been heard and will be considered. One also knows that Dr. Keenan will accept any help that can be
provided. This occurs because Dr. Keenan knows that it is the community that will continue to make the
schools excellent.
When Dr. Keenan was hired in Westlake, the board had two initial goals: first, he MUST maintain the
excellence of education that had become synonymous with the Westlake City School District and
second, he MUST review and develop a plan to address the failing buildings in the district.
While both are daunting tasks, they are so for different reasons.
Educationally, our community expects the schools to educate for excellence and offer top rated
programming to all students. However, with a continually growing list of unfunded mandates and state
budget cuts, it requires the hand of a surgeon to cut and piece together a feasible budget that maintains
the award winning programs that our community expects while implementing new initiatives that
enhance student opportunities and achievement. In fact, during Dr. Keenan's tenure, the Westlake City
Schools have achieved its highest state performance rating five of his six years, including last year when
our performance rating was the highest in school district history.
The school facilities situation was daunting for other reasons. Because we were consistently highly rated
educationally, community members and parents tended to overlook the condition of our school
9 / 12
