A pair of short-term superintendents left their posts in the past week, including one whose email contained an alleged “microaggression” that offended his new school board bosses.
Vito Perrone had begun negotiating a contract to become superintendent of Easthampton Public Schools in Massachusetts when the offer—a three-year contract with an annual $151,000 salary—was rescinded late last week, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported. The problem arose when Perrone, who is currently earning a slightly higher salary as interim superintendent of nearby West Springfield Public Schools, used the term “ladies” in an email salutation to address school board Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski and an executive assistant in a follow-up email about his salary and benefits.
Kwiecinski told Perrone that using “ladies” was a microaggression and “the fact that he didn’t know that as an educator was a problem,” he told the Daily Hampshire Gazette. “I was shocked,” Perrone, who had previously been the principal of Easthampton High School, told the news outlet. “I grew up in a time when ‘ladies’ and ‘gentlemen’ was a sign of respect. I didn’t intend to insult anyone.”
A group of parents and staffers who support Perrone were planning to protest at the school board’s meeting Monday night, MassLive.com reported.
In Southern California, Ojai USD interim superintendent Penelope DeLeon withdrew from the position after just four days, the Ojai Valley News reported. At issue was the school board’s 3-2 vote to have DeLeon replace Tiffany Morse, who reached a separation agreement with the school board earlier last month. DeLeon told School Board President Rebecca Chandler that anything less than a unanimous 5-0 decision to appoint her made it too challenging to lead the district effectively.
Also in California, Carmel USD Superintendent Ted Knight was placed on administrative leave pending a third-party investigation into his handling of personnel matters, KSBW.com reported. And in Flordia, Brevard Public Schools picked Sue Hann to serve as interim superintendent after her predecessor as the interim, Robert Schiller, was placed on leave, SpaceCoastDaily.com reported. Schiller and the school board had clashed over his contract, according to SpaceCoastDaily.com.
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Brevard’s last full-time superintendent, Mark Mullins, left his post after his strength as a leader was called into question by a newly installed board, according to local reports.
More central office changes
In more positive news, a handful of districts have also announced new leaders. Gyimah Whitaker has been named the sole finalist to become superintendent of the City Schools of Decatur in Georgia on July 1. Walker most recently served as deputy chief academic officer for Fulton County Schools surrounding Atlanta.
In other central office leadership shifts:
- Frank Hauser has been chosen as the next superintendent of the Juneau School District in Alaska.
- Hudson Public Schools in Massachusetts has chosen Brian Reagan as its next superintendent. Reagan is now the superintendent of Waltham Public Schools, also in the Boston area.
- Mark Wade was named the new superintendent of Boyle County Schools in Kentucky. Boyle, now the district’s high school principal, has been with Boyle County Schools fo 20 years.
- Superintendent Daniel Behm will retire from Forest Hills Public Schools in Michigan this summer.
- Chad Gestson is stepping down this summer after eight years as superintendent of Phoenix Union High School District in Arizona.
- ’s resignation was accepted by the ESD School Board during a special meeting on Wednesday. Her resignation is official as of June 30 this year.
- Autauga County Schools Superintendent Tim Tidmore announced that he will retire from the Alabama district on June 1.
