7676 N. First Street Fresno, CA 93720  |  (559) 327-2500

About Us

Home  \  About  \  About Us
George W. “Tink” Kastner
Kastner Intermediate School opened in 1979.  The school was named after George W. “Tink” Kastner.  A native of Clovis, he was a successful athlete at Clovis High earning varsity letters in track and football.  In 1936 and 1937, he was the Fresno County Half-Mile Champion.  At Fresno State, Kastner earned three varsity letters in track and in 1939 was the Far Western Conference Champion Miler. 
 
Kastner Momument
Mr. Kastner served his country proudly entering the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.  He flew an A36 Fighter plane, “The Strawberry Blonde” for a record 83 missions, earning a Certificate of Valor.  Kastner served as Base Commander of the first helicopter unit in the United States.
 
He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters as Security Education Officer.  After his discharge from active duty, he became Group Commander 93, 72nd Reserve Wing for Central California and Southern Nevada.  He retired from U.S.A.F. as a full Colonel.
 
He returned to Clovis and worked for Clovis Unified in many roles.  This included:  Teacher, Coach, Vice Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Associate Superintendent.  Mr. Kastner also served as Clovis Alumni President, President of the North Sequoia League, President of the North Yosemite League, Chairman of the CIF Central Section Track Committee and Track Commissioner.
 
In 1997, he was inducted to the Clovis Hall of Fame and proclaimed by the Clovis City Council as “The Ideal Man of Clovis”.  Mr. George “Tink” Kastner retired at the end of the 1978-1979 school year.  In 2017, he was honored at CUSD’s Athletic Hall of Fame, posthumously, for the Doc Buchanan Award.
 
Under the leadership of Dr. James S. Fugman as Kastner’s first principal, the school opened up on the Clovis West Campus in portables with approximately 600 students in 1979.  This was small compared to Clark Intermediate, which had roughly 1600 students. A year and a half later, Kastner Intermediate moved to First Street onto its own campus.
                                                       Kastner Plaque
It was such an honor for Dr. Fugman to have his first principalship at Kastner.  He embraced  “Doc-isms” of Dr. Floyd B. “Doc” Buchanan the founding Superintendent of CUSD.  “We all win together or we lose together.” Dr. Fugman’s philosophy as an administrator was similar to coaching football.  Organize, plan and motivate.  Every Friday, you put your team out on the field.
 
Under Dr. Fugman’s leadership, planning, work ethic, curriculum, instructional strategies and high expectations, Kastner was the first school in CUSD to earn the California State Distinguished Award in 1982.  The Blue Ribbon School Award followed in 1985, another CUSD first.
 
Kastner Intermediate Awards
1982      California State Distinguished
1985      National Blue Ribbon
1993      California Blue Ribbon Nominee
1993      National Blue Ribbon
1999      California State Distinguished
2005      California State Distinguished
2008      National Schools to Watch
2011      National Schools to Watch
2012      California State Distinguished
2013      California Business for Education Excellence (CBEE)
2013      California School Board Association Golden Bell Award
2013      California State Distinguished
2014      National Schools to Watch
2015      Gold Ribbon Validation Visit (formally known as California State Distinguished)
2016      Kastner Cheer – National Champions                       
2017      Bonner Character Award, Fresno State
2017      Civic Learning Award of Merit
2017      National Schools to Watch
2018      National Schools to Watch
2018      California Business for Education Honor Roll
2018      Rising Math Scores 
 
 

Clovis West Area Accomplishments!

Gen Session - Highlights - CW from Clovis Unified School District on Vimeo.

Clovis Unified School District: Be the best you can be in mind, body, and spirit
Buchanan Area Schools
Buchanan Alta Sierra Cole Century Dry Creek Garfield Tarpey Woods
Clovis High Area Schools
Clovis High Clark Cedar Wood Clovis Elementary Mickey Cox Gettysburg Jefferson Red Bank Sierra Vista Weldon
Clovis West Area Schools
Clovis West Kastner Ft. Washington Liberty Lincoln Maple Creek Nelson Pinedale Valley Oak
Clovis North Area Schools
Clovis North Bud Rank Copper Hills Fugman Mountain View River View
Clovis East Area Schools
Clovis East Boris Fancher Creek Freedom Miramonte Oraze Temperance Kutner Reagan Elementary Young Elementary
Educational Services Area Schools
CART Gateway Clovis Online School Clovis Community Day School Clovis Adult Education Sierra Outdoor
View text-based website