The Galveston ISD superintendent who called women “worker bees” at a high school groundbreaking ceremony has agreed to leave the district over the remarks, which many in the community considered sexist.
At the April 26 event, longtime educator Jerry Gibson said: “The ladies are the worker bees; they are going to get it done behind the scenes and keep pushing and take care of the details,” according to The Galveston County Daily News.
“Isn’t that right, men? They do their best to make us look good even though we don’t give them much to work with. But we need a man to push this through,” he was quoted as saying.
Prior to being hired in Galveston in 2021, Gibson had been superintendent in two other Texas districts, Marshall ISD and Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated ISD. He has also worked as a principal, teacher, coach and athletic director. Gibson, who will receive a $70,000 severance package, was criticized by the school board earlier this year for not notifying members when he interviewed for two superintendent posts in Florida—even though he had no obligation to tell them about his job search, Houston Public Media reported.
Unwelcome behavior at a school event also led to the departure of the superintendent of the Beekmantown Central School District in upstate New York this week. Daniel Mannix announced his resignation last week, a few months after he was placed on leave for reportedly yelling at players and referees during a basketball game between two high schools from outside his district, according to the Press-Republican. Mannix, who had led Beekmantown CSD for 10 years, was called out after the game on social media by one of the high school’s principals.
High-profile posts filled
Warren Morgan is among several administrators moving into big-district leadership posts. Morgan, now the chief academic officer at Indianapolis Public Schools, has been named the next CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Morgan has also worked as a principal and teacher in districts in Chicago and St. Louis.
In Virginia, Melanie Kay-Wyatt has been promoted from interim to permanent superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools. Kay-Wyatt was the district’s chief of human resources before being tapped as the interim superintendent in 2022. She has also been an educator in several other Virginia districts.
Arlington ISD in Texas has unanimously chosen Michelle Cavazos as the lone finalist for its superintendent’s post. Cavazos, who is not related to the district’s current superintendent, Marcelo Cavazos, is currently the superintendent for Gregory-Portland ISD, also in Texas. She was previously an administrator at Austin ISD and she has 16 years of experience as a principal in elementary, middle and high schools.
Elizabeth Grant, currently a professor at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and formerly a U.S. Department of Education senior policy advisor, will take over as superintendent in the Salt Lake City School District on July 1. Grant previously served as a principal and assistant principal in Salt Lake City schools.
Finally, Kalamazoo Public Schools in Michigan has picked Darrin Slade as its next superintendent. Slade is now the deputy superintendent of the Hazelwood Public School District in Missouri and has 30 years of experience in education. He was previously the assistant superintendent of instructional leadership for Kansas City Public Schools, where he supervised principals, instructional programming, school climate and strategic planning.
More arrivals and departures
Hires
- Christopher Barnard, Manchester-Shortsville Central School District (New York)
- Wendy Dau Provo City School District (Utah)
- Craig Jernagan, Maconaquah School Corporation (Indiana)
- Michael Lindsey, Ocean Springs School District (Mississippi)
- Todd McKee, Cache County School District (Utah)
- Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien, Sonoma Valley USD (California)
- Barbara Sargent, West Morris Regional High School District (New Jersey)
- Janet L. Sherrod, Phenix City Schools (Alabama)
- Mark Vianello, Charlotte County Public Schools (Florida)
Departures
- Rich Beran resigned from Gretna Public Schools (Nebraska) over differences with the school board, KETV.com reported.
- Superintendent Mark Henry will retire from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (texas) on Dec. 31.
- Lisa Jackson is retiring from Pamlico County Schools (North Carolina) on Sept. 1, according to the Sun Journal.
- John Regan resigned as superintendent of Atwater Cosmos Grove City Public Schools (Minnesota).
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