Collier County School Board narrows superintendent search to ‘final four’ list. What we know
Naples Daily News | By Nikki Ross | April 6, 2023
The Collier County School Board has chosen four finalists for the superintendent position.
A total of 45 applications were received for the position, including one for Interim Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli, who has publicly expressed interest in the position.
Ricciardelli took over as interim superintendent in December after former superintendent Kamela Patton, who was set to retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year, signed a mutual transition agreement with the school board.
What’s next?
- The first round of interviews will occur at a special board meeting at 8 a.m. on April 19. The board will then narrow down the candidates further and conduct a second interview at a special board meeting at 8 a.m. on April 26.
- The superintendent will be appointed at the regular school board meeting at 4:30 p.m. on May 9.
Here are the finalists:
Jerry Gibson
Experience
- Current superintendent of the Galveston Independent School District in Texas
- 2016-2021 superintendent of the Marshall Independent School District in Texas
- 2013-2016 superintendent of the Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District in Texas
- 2011-2013 executive director of secondary education for the Waco Independent School District in Texas
- 2010-2011 principal of Whitney High School in Texas
- 2007-2010 principal of Deweyville High School in Texas
- He has also been an assistant principal, teacher and coach
For more information, view his application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.
Leslie Ricciardelli
Experience
- Current interim superintendent of the Collier County School District
- March 2022-December 2022 deputy superintendent of the Collier County School District
- 2021-2022 school leadership and performance officer for the Collier County School District
- 2020-2021 assistant superintendent of school leadership for the Collier County School District
- 2015-2020 executive director of teacher and learning for the Collier County School District
- She has also been a principal, assistant principal, dean of attendance and discipline as well as an ESE specialist
For more information, view her application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.
Marianne Simon
Experience
- Current elementary region superintendent for Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville
- 2018-2019 principal of Arlington Heights Elementary
- 2014-2018 principal of Reynolds Land Elementary
- 2011-2014 principal of Waterleaf Elementary
- 2007-2011 principal of Woodland Acres Elementary
- She was also been an assistant principal, ESE reading specialist and ESE teacher in Duval County Public Schools
For more information, view her application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.
Charles Van Zant Jr.
Experience
- 2020-2022 HR officer for the United States Army, Florida National Guard
- 2017-2019 executive director of business development for Meteor Education in Gainesville
- 2012-2016 superintendent of the Clay County School District in Green Cove Springs, Florida
- 1998-2012 school board member for the Clay County School Board
- He has held many positions from 1989 through 2022 for the United States Army and Florida National Guard
For more information, view his application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.
