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BRADENTON, Fla. — The School Board of Manatee County is scheduled to select its next superintendent on Tuesday.
Their selection will be the fifth superintendent the district has had in a dozen years.
What You Need To Know
- Manatee School Board members set to choose new superintendent Tuesday
- Final candidates are Dr. Laurie Breslin, who currently works for the Manatee school district, and Dr. Misty Mathis, who has spent her career in Nassau County
- Both finalists have similar resumes and have worked extensively with the Florida Department of Education, which is something that was important to the majority of the school board
- School Board Meeting agenda (.pdf)
The two finalists are Dr. Laurie Breslin, who currently works for the Manatee school district, and Dr. Misty Mathis, who has spent her career in Nassau County. Both finalists have similar resumes and have worked extensively with the Florida Department of Education, which is something that was important to the majority of the school board.
During the interview process this time around, board members asked a number of questions to make sure the new pick would be a better fit in those areas.
Board member Richard Tatem asked both Breslin and Mathis what some things are that make a “great” leader.
“We see sometimes… ‘oh, you’re the superintendent, and that’s a great idea,’” Breslin said.“But that’s not always the correct answer. Sometimes the correct answer is to respectfully point out that there could be an error in the thinking. A great leader understands that is a necessity in leadership.”
“We have to be willing and able to step back as a team and not continue to move forward just because Dr. Mathis said… or just because the team said,” Mathis responded.
School board members are expected to select Dr. Laurie Breslin or Dr. Misty Mathis to lead the School District of Manatee County.
Tatem then asked the candidates about their leadership styles.
Breslin referenced that she’s grown over time as a leader, and now isn’t afraid of having the hard conversations with her staff.
“It is a skill that you grow as you move through leadership… and that’s how to have difficult conversations that achieve growth at the end instead of deflating somebody,” Breslin stated.
Mathis referenced her leadership experience in the Nassau County school district and the way she works as a team.
“I have a core that’s all about shared leadership and collaboration and I’m a unifier of people,” Mathis said. “I would bring together all the leaders… to make the right decision for our school district.”
After the new superintendent is selected, the district has two weeks to figure out the details of the contract. The new superintendent’s contract is expected to be solidified by Sept. 9.
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Angie Angers
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