NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) - Three finalists remain in the running for superintendent of Natchitoches Parish schools.
The Town Talk reports (https://townta.lk/1hHNkmL ) the board will make a final decision on Tuesday.
The Natchitoches Parish School Board narrowed the search for a replacement for Superintendent Derwood Duke, who retired April 30, at a special meeting last week.
Finalists are Eddie Jones of Florien, Ruth Kay of Provencal and Dale Skinner of Zwolle.
Jones has been principal of Florien High School in Sabine Parish since 2005, after serving as assistant principal one year and teacher and coach since 2001. He began teaching in 1990 and has been mayor of Florien since 2004.
“It feels good that the board has enough confidence to bring me back,” he said after finalists were announced. “If elected, I will do everything I can not to let them down.”
Kay, 69, has 13 years administrative experience in Natchitoches and 25 years of teaching. She teaches high school English in Coushatta in Red River Parish, where she has taught since 2008.
She said a “major wound” in the Natchitoches system and education across the country is a low graduation index.
“It’s a travesty that the number entering high school is not the same number graduating,” she said.
Skinner, 74, has been principal at Natchitoches Central High School since 2010. He has 30 years of experience as an administrator in Cameron, Sabine and Natchitoches parishes and 15 years of teaching experience.
“I can assure you I can move this school system forward,” Skinner told the board.
One area he wants to address is students who do not read on grade level. As a principal in the district, he said he sees about 150 students each year reading below their grade level. He doesn’t know a perfect solution right now, but wants to find something other than continually purchasing remediation programs and materials.
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Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk, https://www.thetowntalk.com
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