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District Recruiting New Leaders

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By RONNIE BLAIR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The Pasco County School District, worried that retirements could deplete its ranks of principals and other administrators over the next few years, is trying to recruit more people into the leadership positions.

Many school district administrators are part of the aging baby boom generation and "they are booming out," Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said.

To cultivate potential replacements, the district plans two Leadership Exploration Nights where school employees can learn about the process for becoming a principal or assistant principal and about educational opportunities for aspiring school leaders.

Fiorentino said the two events also are for school employees who want to take on leadership roles within their schools, such as chairing a committee.

The first leadership night is Monday at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey. The second is Oct. 7 at Wiregrass Ranch High in Wesley Chapel. Both are from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Some current principals will be on hand to answer questions, and universities will distribute information about their degree programs in school leadership.

Fiorentino plans to attend the first event, but expects to miss the one at Wiregrass Ranch High because it conflicts with a political candidates' forum she is participating in.

The school district keeps a pool of principal candidates and another pool of assistant principal candidates, but hopes to beef those up, said Summer Romagnoli, a district spokeswoman.

Retirements aren't the only factor creating the need for more administrators. The school district also has been building new schools, which creates new principal and assistant principal positions.

Right now the principal pool is "very shallow," with five elementary principal candidates and four each for middle schools and high schools, Romagnoli said.

The assistant principal pool is healthier, with 24 elementary, 27 middle and 15 high school candidates.

The district prefers to hire administrators from within, but on occasion looks to other school districts for potential candidates, Fiorentino said.

Salaries used to be a more of a stumbling block for teachers who sought to become assistant principals because in many cases the salary bump wasn't large enough to entice someone to take on the added hours and responsibilities.

Fiorentino said the district recognized that problem about 12 years ago under her predecessor, John Long, and made adjustments so it's less of a concern today. Fiorentino also did an administrative salary study when she took office four years ago and made efforts to improve the pay.

The pay range for elementary, middle and alternative school principals is $71,445 to $108,704. The pay range for high school principals is $75,017 to $114,143.

Assistant principal salaries range from $57,679 to $101,599, depending on the type of school and how many work days the assistant's contract calls for.

On occasion, teachers move into assistant principal jobs, then decide to return to teaching because of family obligations or other reasons, Fiorentino said. Some of those later become administrators again, but others decide to stick permanently with teaching, she said.

Retirements over the last few years have already begun to change the makeup of the school district's leadership.

A recent district study revealed that 62 percent of assistant principals, principals and other district administrators have been in their current positions for three years or less. Some of those people have more than three years' experience as administrators, though.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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