USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 20, No. 34
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
August 19, 2020
1 Section, 8 Pages
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
N A R R O W S D O W N TO S I X C A N D I D AT E S by Gina Castro
For the first time in Escambia County, the county school district’s superintendent will be appointed rather than nominated. The Superintendent Search Citizens Advisory Committee, which is comprised of 22 members, has narrowed the list of 27 superintendent applicants down to six semifinalists. The committee members read through each of the applicants resumes, recommendation letters extensively. The committee voted to send the six candidates to the county school board for approval. The board approved of the candidates during its regular meeting on July 21. The superintendent of Escambia County oversees more than 40,000 students, 5,000 employees, 58 schools and a budget of more than $650 million. The board plans to offer the next superintendent a three-year contract and a salary range of $145,000 to $175,000. We reached out to each of the semifinalists for a brief summary of their background and experience. Some of the candidates didn’t respond by deadline, but you can view the applications for all 27 applicants on this website ecsd-fl. schoolloop.com/superintendentsearch.
spanning across the country, I have earned an esteemed reputation as a transformational and servant leader. Given the opportunity, I am confident that I will be the transformational and servant leader that the Escambia County School District needs.
to-day operations when the Superintendent is out of the office. I have had proven success over my career as an instructional leader, developing rapport with all stakeholders, and closing the opportunity gap for all students. My goal is to bring a sense of collaboration, charisma, positivity, knowledge, trustworthiness, and support to the position of Superintendent of Escambia County School District. 3. Keith C. Rittel
As a proud 1996 graduate of Woodham High School, it gives me joy in being able to apply for this position. Over the course of my professional journey, I’ve always sought to return home to Pensacola to lead in a community that has given so much to my family and I. In my 20 years of experience as an educator, I have served in various roles in both urban and rural school districts. Having enjoyed successful leadership experiences
It is an honor to be selected as a semi-finalist for the Superintendent of Escambia County School District. I have been blessed to be in education for 32 years. I have worked on the elementary, middle, high school, and the district levels. My educational journey began as a high school mathematics teacher for 6 years, a school based administrator for 22 years, and currently in my fourth year as Executive Director of Leadership & Operations. As the Executive Director of Leadership and Operations, it is my responsibility to oversee all the schools and departments within our school district. For the past three years, I have served as the number two person for Flagler County Schools. I have loyally served in the Superintendent’s role taking charge of the day-
Keith C. Rittel has been superintendent of the Provo City School District since June 2012. Since arriving in Provo, Mr. Rittel has emphasized evidence-based practices in effective teaching, graduation rates, and a technology-based “Innovative Learning Initiative.” Prior to taking the reins in Provo, Keith Rittel was Deputy Superintendent of Clover Park School District (Lakewood, WA) for four years where he worked closely with Joint Base Lewis McChord and received several Department of Defense Education Grants for the district. Previously, he served 11 years as a high school principal with 4 years at Kamiak HS (Mukilteo, WA) and 7 years at Anacortes HS (Anacortes, WA). In 2004, he was honored to be selected as Washington State’s High School Principal of the Year. Mr. Rittel has had a consistent record of success in each successive position he has held since becoming an educator.
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1. Marques L. Stewart
2. Dr. Earl Johnson
His students have won awards, but most importantly his work has resulted in improved graduation rates among all student populations. Further, ACT, AP, and countless other measures of student success have all improved significantly unde Mr. Rittel’s leadership. 4. Dr. Timothy A. Smith
Excited and ready to lead the Escambia County School District, I am honored to be considered for the superintendent position. Currently, I oversee 10 high school principals as an executive area director for Orange County Public Schools in the Orlando metropolitan area. I have been a teacher, dean, assistant principal, a principal of an innercity middle school, a principal of a new middle school, and a high school principal. My goal would be to lead the district for students to learn, graduate, and grow to be productive citizens. This would include caring about each and every student, safety, effective teaching, staff training, parent involvement, and community engagement. 5. Keith Leonard
Leonard is the only semifinalists who currently works within the Escambia County School District. He is the assistant superintendent of human resource services.
unique school improvement program that dramatically improved student achievement, and for his efforts, he was awarded the prestigious American Society for Quality’s International Juran Medal (2010) in the field of education for sustained systemic improvement. Currently, Dr. Cotter is the co-founder of the Exemplary Schools Organization and is author of two educational leadership books. Previously, Dr. Cotter served as superintendent of schools in Pennsylvania for 11 years, a principal for 5 years, and as a District Curriculum Supervisor, an Assistant Principal, a Middle and High School teacher in both regular and special education for well over 15 years. Escambia County and Pensacola is extremely attractive due to its downtown revitalization, its history, its diversity, its energy as a social, economic and educational center for the Panhandle region. He looks forward to the challenge of moving the district from “Good to Great.” For the next step in the superintendent search, the school board will ask each of the finalists five questions, and the candidates will provide written and video responses. The board will then invite all of the semifinalists or a few of them for an in-person interview in Escambia County. The interviews will begin mid August.
6. Dr. Vincent F. Cotter
Dr. Vincent F. Cotter, as superintendent of schools, was the primary innovator of a
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