JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board on Wednesday voted to suspend the search for a new superintendent and re-advertise the position early on in 2024.
The school board only received 10 applications for the top job in the district, and about half of those applicants met the minimum qualifications the board wanted to see. The last time the job was up for grabs in 2018, the district said it received about 80 applications.
The board was supposed to choose semi-finalists on Wednesday with the goal of having a new superintendent in place in January, but the consultants assisting them in the search said some sitting superintendents said they were nervous about applying to a job that would start in the middle of the school year and that they were also concerned about the school board election scheduled for 2024.
“This job is too important to let the calendar force our decision. We are in the very fortunate position to have Dr. Kriznar guiding the district. She continues to do a remarkable job, which gives the board the benefit of time. Our clear interest is to find a person who has the demonstrated capability to move a district of our size and diversity to a higher level of achievement. Our students, families, teachers, staff, and the whole community deserve nothing less. I am grateful to be on a board that shares this vision and is willing to take the time to get it right.”
School Board Chairwoman Dr. Kelly Coker
The board voted unanimously to extend the contract of the interim superintendent, Dr. Dana Kriznar, through June of 2024. Krizner also issued a statement on the extension of her role.
“It has been a great privilege to lead our district during this time. I’m inspired every day by the work of our teachers, leaders, and staff in our schools and the commitment of the district team. I am also thankful for the board’s confidence in the work we are doing while they take the time to find the best future leader for our schools. Our leadership team will continue to do all we can to support our schools as the search process continues.”
Dr. Dana Kriznar
The school board had originally aimed to approve a contract at some point in December and have the new superintendent’s first day on the job in January.
Here’s a look at the 10 candidates who applied:
- Dr. Cheryl Proctor is the deputy superintendent for Portland Public Schools in Oregon.
- Robert Cox is an administrator for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa.
- Dr. Michael Kemp is from Jacksonville and currently works for Clay County District Schools. He was the assistant superintendent for three years.
- Scott Schneider is the current Chief of Schools for DCPS. He has been in that role since 2021. He is also a former principal.
- Dr. Clifford Burns is the Superintendent of Schools at the Andover Regional School District in New Jersey.
- Dr. Garrick Askew is the Assistant Superintendent of Operations for the Clarke County School District in Georgia.
- Adam Taylor is currently a consultant for a research firm. He previously served as a superintendent for a school system in California.
- Dr. Corwin Robinson is a retired U.S. Army Colonel who is currently a program administrator for the St. Tammany Parish School System in Louisiana.
- Dr. Annie Cruez-Samuels is the dean of academic affairs at Keiser University in Daytona Beach where she is also a professor.
- Dr. Marianne Simon is a regional superintendent for DCPS. She is also the Summer School coordinator and is a former elementary school principal.