By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Paul Pastorek shocked many in the local education community earlier this week when he announced his resignation as state superintendent of education.

“I was definitely surprised,” said St. John the Baptist Parish Superintendent Courtney Millet. “Superintendent Pastorek was truly a believer in change, and he made no secret about that issue.”

His proposed changes came too suddenly for some, however, who thought his “adapt or else” attitude was often too much for local districts to bear.

St. John School Board member Russ Wise, who said he has known Patorek for years, said the man who was superintendent was not the man he had come to know previously.

“I’m not sure what happened when he became superintendent,” said Wise. “He became, I suppose, kind of a point man for the administration.”

Wise added he thought Pastorek’s opinionated nature, which made him a good lawyer, did not necessarily transfer well to the position of the state’s educational leader. He cited some of Pastorek’s unfunded mandates as evidence that the superintendent was isolated from local leaders.

“Hopefully his departure will open the door for someone who is more interested in consensus-building,” said Wise.

St. James Superintendent Alonzo Luce, echoing the view of the state association of superintendents, said he hopes Pasorek’s chosen replacement is someone who is credentialed to be a superintendent. Pastorek came from legal background, and his critics often referenced his lack of education experience.

Wise fears, however, a replacement has already been chosen in the form of new Recovery School District Superintendent John White.

“This is not a job you just want to give to any Tom, Dick or Harry — or Harriet,” he said. “The first step is to take politics out of it completely.”

Any criticism of Pastorek and the timing of his departure aside, the St. John school district lost a bit of a cheerleader in the former education chief.

“With regard to Superintendent Pastorek, he has been very supportive of our work here in St. John to implement Motion Leadership throughout the district since 2009,” said Millet.

She went on to cite an example in which Pastorek used the district as an example of one that exceeds expectations.

Said Millet, “He is a hard worker who I believe wants what is best for all of the students in Louisiana.”