After seven years at the helm of what is considered one of the best school systems in the state, Superintendent Gayle Sloan expressed her desire to step down effective June 30. “Serving as Superintendent for St. Tammany’s public schools has been a privilege for me, as I grew up here, graduated from one of our fine public high schools, lived almost my entire life in this community and came up through the ranks of dedicated employees. This has been much more than a job to me. It has been a labor of love,” Sloan said in her letter to the school board.

The announcement was made public in a news release early Friday morning. No plans or selection process for her replacement have been announced, although Sloan said in an interview Friday afternoon that the school system has the talent internally. She said she expects the school board will advertise nationally for the position, however, and the ultimate decision will be up to them.

The announcement comes after a sterling district-wide re-accreditation by AdvancED representing the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. St. Tammany schools were one of very few in the country to have this designation.

Gayle Sloan

“This is my 39th year in education...I have loved my career. Even the bad times have had their rewards,” Sloan said. Even in the best of times, the position is stressful and a hard job. She said that the time is right to take a break and slow down, maintain a lower profile and enjoy a slower pace.

Sloan said that as superintendent she usually takes off the week of July 4. Other than that one week, she has been on the job. She and her husband Cliff plan to take a long trip when she retires, “Maybe as long as three weeks.” She said she hopes to have a continuing role in public education, but what that may be is still undetermined.

Timing was a motivating factor in her decision. She said her contract is up for renewal March 2011 and she did not want to leave in the middle of a school year. By announcing her retirement now, the school board has three and a half months to get someone else on board.

With the reaccredidation good for five years and the five year strategic plan in place, there is little Sloan has left on her plate. She does want the Mayfield Elementary boundaries set before she leaves.

Her one regret, and it is not due to her or anyone but the economy, is the University Square Learning Park.

“This project has the potential to transform education as we know it,” she said. “The school board is ready but higher education has been hit hard by the economy. We are still very committed to the project, but I do regret it didn’t get off the ground when we thought it would. I thought we’d be looking at breaking ground next year.”

She said she made a “bucket list” of things she would like to accomplish and finish before leaving as superintendent and has accomplished them, including the complete recovery from Hurricane Katrina. “The opening of the Brooks Curriculum Center and Salmen High School will complete the recovery and they are scheduled soon.”

She said there was one accolade she always hoped for, and this is coming in April. “I always hoped the school board would receive the Magna Award, the highest award nationally available for school boards. They will receive the award in April. I’m glad they will be recognized for all their hard work,” she said.

With eyes sparkling, she related the trials and tribulations of Katrina with mixed emotions. “It was a difficult and challenging time, but the education community pulled together with the community and this was key to the area’s recovery,” she said. People felt that once the kids were back in school, everything would be all right. “Despite the difficulties, it was a rewarding time,” she said. “The school district grew and improved after the storm.”

What was the best thing about her time as superintendent? “The people. This area really values public education and we have very talented, hard-working and dedicated educators. We have built capacity in the system and it has been wonderful to see student achievement and the young professionals in the field grow,” she said.

Sloan said her legacy is that the school system has grown so much as a learning organization. “Things are in place to continue and not miss a beat without me.”

Consistency has been a trademark of her tenure as superintendent. Consistent high test scores, improvements in GEE, LEAP, scholarship, even graduation rates have all flourished under her guidance. New programs, the institution of technology as a staple in the classroom and as a part of the 2008 bond issue earned a place in preparing students for tomorrow’s workplace and world. All scores exceed the state average and many times, the national average for the past few years.

Sloan was named State Superintendent of the Year last year and has raised the bar and expectations of public education in the parish. Several new schools have been built under her administration including two currently under construction-Henry Mayfield Elementary in Slidell and Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary near Madisonville. The new Lakeshore High School opened this year with innovative courses in dance, advanced computer courses and a state of the art facility. Many courses slated for the University Square Learning Center are underway at Lakeshore.

Students have garnered scholarships and accolades across the country for their artistic and academic endeavors, including career certifications and competitions ranging from Jazz Ensembles to automotive training.

Before the state developed a career diploma, training was in place in St. Tammany Parish to learn skills and trades for those not college bound. Their classwork and practice in the field earned many students scholarships to vocational-technical colleges as well as four-year universities.

National awards, such as the National Title I School of the Year award, presented to Abita Springs Elementary in honor of the school’s efforts to improve citizenship by being a hospitable hub of the community, is an example of the leadership described by the accreditation team as “courageous and visionary leadership.”

In academic terms, her leadership could be described as transformational and emotionally intelligent, being aware of her stakeholders as well as the greater mission of the school, utilizing best practices and keeping an open mind to her stakeholders’ concerns and ideas.

Sloan graduated from Mandeville High School before attending Louisiana State University, where she earned her teaching degree. Her first eight years as a teacher were spent in the Jefferson Parish Public Schools, before returning home to work briefly at Chahta-Ima Elementary School and then Mandeville Middle School, where she served as a classroom teacher, resource helping teacher, assistant principal and principal before moving to the Central Office. Sloan was an instructional supervisor, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, and became superintendent in 2003, following the death of former Superintendent Leonard P. Monteleone.

School Board President John Lamarque expressed the Board’s high regard for Sloan and the job she has done of moving the school system forward during the last several years. “The Board has great respect and trust for Mrs. Sloan and realizes how fortunate our School System has been to have had her at the helm during some challenging times that required critical decisions.” �