Doug Whittaker has been superintendent of Charlotte County schools since October 2010. Kamela Patton has led Collier schools since June 2011 and Joseph Burke joined Lee schools in July 2011.
Their honeymoon has ended, but in the grand scheme of things, they’re still the new kids on the block in their respective districts. Statewide, though, they’re about to gain some serious seniority.
By the end of next month, a majority of Florida’s 67 superintendents could be new faces. Seven chiefs already have taken office in 2012, and 10 sitting supers lost reelection bids during the August primary. Another 16 are facing challengers in the November general election (including Hendry superintendent Richard Murphy), and seven (including Glades CEO Wayne Aldrich) opted not to seek another term. Florida also is searching for a new education commissioner after Gerard Robinson resigned following a one-year stint in Tallahassee.
“Florida superintendents have a very demanding job that often requires them to make tough decisions that may not always be popular, especially during these financial challenging times,” said Diana Oropallo, communications director for the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. “However, the decisions superintendents make on a daily basis are grounded by a dedication to ensure a high-quality educational experience for the more than 2.6 million Florida public school students to ensure their success in and beyond the classroom. One would be hard pressed to find a more challenging job than school superintendent, nor a more dedicated group of education professionals.”
The average annual turnover rate for superintendents is 14 to 16 percent, according to the American Association of School Administrators. This year is different because it’s an election year, and in Florida, 42 of the 67 counties have elected superintendents, although some positions won’t be on the ballot until 2014.
