Alumnus Follows His Calling to a Thriving Career in Educational Leadership

Casey Yeazel, M.A. '01, didn't see himself moving into educational leadership when he first became a teacher. But a good mentor, a few serendipitous experiences, and his natural abilities compelled him toward a series of school leadership roles as his career evolved. Today, as president of St. Bernard College Preparatory High School in Los Angeles' Westchester neighborhood, he is guiding the school community through a key period of renewal and revitalization.

He began his career in 1996 as a Catholic school teacher in primary education, serving in that role for eight years. "While I always saw myself as a classroom educator for young students, one of my early mentors gifted me another perspective that 'you can still be a teacher in a leadership role by collaborating with and serving faculty and staff.' The most effective leaders take a service-oriented approach," said Yeazel. "That was my 'aha' moment. I could be a force multiplier with broader impact as an educational leader."

He earned his master's degree in secondary education at LMU School of Education (SOE), but within a few years his career shifted. He became an assistant principal for the first time, and later was named principal of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, where he served for five years. He helped lift the school's metrics of student success across the board, including increases in AP Exam passage rates as well as higher SAT scores, four-year aggregate college acceptance rates, and first-year college persistence rate.

He joined Grow Public Schools in 2019, a network of K-8 charter schools, serving as chief academic officer and chief executive officer, respectively. During his tenure, Grow Public Schools secured a $5.8 million U.S. Department of Education Growth and Expansion Grant, and ranked in the top 10 percent in California for growth in performance in English language arts and math for all students.

Yeazel next joined the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as chief of staff to the superintendent in the role of chief of leadership and governance, where he oversaw department operations, developed new school leaders, and formed consultative boards for high schools. While there he developed a strategic plan for St. Bernard High School, which had enjoyed decades of success before facing near-closure in 2019. It was this experience that led him to assume his current role in July 2023.

Under Yeazel's leadership, St. Bernard rebranded in 2024 as a college preparatory high school, with 143 students enrolled. Today there are 200 students, and Yeazel's plans call for enrollment to reach 500 students by 2030. The school has a low 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, and its tuition rate of $13,500 per year is less than two-thirds of the national average annual Catholic school tuition of $22,000. Keeping costs low for families is a key priority, as 80 percent of the school's students receive tuition assistance from foundations.

Among the combined 2024 and 2025 graduates, 98 percent were accepted to four-year universities. "We are forward-thinking and hopeful for the future after many years of growing pains," said Yeazel. "It is my hope St. Bernard will become the model for other Archdiocesan schools when it comes to collaborating with the local community, as well as encouraging alumni involvement, many of whom already serve on the faculty, staff, and administration." Yeazel says he's been "moved by the Holy Spirit to be there for these students."

The 14-acre campus is also undergoing a $20 million upgrade with support from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as generous grants from the Catholic Education Foundation, Shea Family Charities, Dan Murphy Foundation, Seaver Funds, Rose Hills Foundation, and the Ahmanson Foundation. Modern, safe, and accessible facilities are essential to student learning and success, emphasized Yeazel. The renovations are part of a larger community project that is funded separately: the development of Lulu's Place, a new education and athletic complex adjacent to St. Bernard. It will feature a STEM lab and athletic field that will be accessible to St. Bernard students.

St. Bernard also participates in The LMU Promise program, launched in fall 2025, as part of its first cohort of six Catholic high schools. This partnership between LMU and the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles features a transfer agreement for three qualifying students from each participating school, as well as professional development programs for the schools' educators, which are delivered by SOE's faculty and staff. Investing in teachers means investing in students, Yeazel notes of this participation.

"When I was getting ready to pursue my master's degree in secondary education and teaching, I was really interested and compelled by LMU's mission, valuing education through a justice-informed lens," said Yeazel. "I embrace the notion of education as a commonweal-something that can change the trajectory of people's lives for the better."

"An important draw to SOE is the university's Jesuit values, with a long-standing tradition of focusing on holistic, 'whole-person' development inclusive of intellect, conscience, and compassion," he continues. "If you're considering a graduate program, you should look at the faculty, their research interests, and the programs and structures to see if they align with who you are as a person and your goals as an educator. For me it does and always did. It's been almost 30 years since I earned my master's at LMU, and I still draw upon my experiences there to inform who I am and what I do."