Superintendent Kevin George tells School Board he intends to exit St. John Public Schools
Published 4:34 pm Monday, May 6, 2019
- Emily C. Watkins Principal Antoinette Robinet, left, jokes with Kevin George in December during the superintendent’s tour of public schools, where he presented bonus checks to top performing teachers and principals.
RESERVE — Superintendent Kevin George has announced his intention to exit St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools.
“I am very proud of a lot of accomplishments that we made, but this is a good time and place for the School Board to begin to find my replacement,” George told L’OBSERVATEUR. “I want the school district to be an A, whether I am here or not. That is what I want them to strive to do.”
As superintendent, George is the public school district’s lead educator and the only hire made by the elected St. John Parish School Board.
George’s contract runs through June 2020, and his resignation will be no later than that day. However, it could come much sooner based on the replacement process and joint exit negotiation between George and School Board members.
School Board President Patrick Sanders said the Board’s two priorities are hiring a superintendent and approving a balanced budget.
“This opportunity provides us with a great opportunity to address both simultaneously,” Sanders said.
“I have asked my fellow Board members not to rush to judgment and allow ourselves to be open and transparent about our decisions. We will continue to concentrate on what’s in the best interest of children through this process.”
Sanders said he is urging each School Board member to continue working toward making all St. John elementary students either a West St. John High “Ram” or an East St. John High “Wildcat.”
“When we accomplish that, our children will have endless possibilities upon the completion of high school, and we can walk away saying, ‘I’ve made a difference,’” Sanders said.
George said a recent death in his family changed his mindset about what he wants to do with the rest of his career.
“There is no better time than the present to seek out other opportunities,” George said.
“Six years is pretty long for a superintendent. Six years of doing the same thing over and over really does wear on you physically, emotionally and health wise.”
George told L’OBSERVATEUR he will remain in the office while monitoring his own health, adding his physician told him recently to avoid stressful situations.
“I will still handle day-to-day operations,” George said. “I want to be able to transition the new person in and do all I can to help facilitate that process.”
The School Board is scheduled to meet again as a whole Thursday.
