School Board selects Dr. Mark Shanoff as next school superintendent

The Osceola County School Board has selected Dr. Mark Shanoff, the current Chief Information Officer of Orange County Public Schools, as its next school superintendent to succeed the retiring Dr. Debra Pace.

This culminates a months-long process to chose who will oversee 85,000 students and 8,000 employees.

Over the next two weeks, the district and Shanoff will hammer out a contract, which will be ratified and adopted at the Board's next meeting on June 27.

The vote for Shanoff was unanimous, although in individual comments, Board Vice Chair Erika Booth supported Dr. Michael Allen, the Osceola district's assistant superintendent for middle school curriculum.

Board Chairwoman Teresa Castillo called Shanoff, who was boarding a plane, during a recess in Tuesday's meeting to let him know.

"Oh, he said he was watching (online)," she said. "He said was so excited about the opportunity, and is ready to get to work. He's tasked with boosting the morale of our teachers, and is challenged with forming a strong cabinet."

Among the comments from Board members: 

Julius Melendez: "This is not about the negative. It's about the future, in a medium-sized district where the school infrastructure has to catch up. It's a chance to reimagine a school district and, in many ways, start from scratch."

Jon Arguello: "This is a key moment in a district that needs leadership. Accountability is not its strong suit. We need to not make the comfortable pick."

Heather Kahoun: "It's been a tough decision. Dr. Allen would lead us well, but my gut says something different."

Vice Chair Erika Booth: "This is a very tough decision. We have pulled together to do this work. Speaking as a parent of three students, it's vital we focus that every child of every age matters, are we producing the next adults from pre-K to 12th grade."

Castillo: "We took this very seriously, at this moment we are united. The candidates we received were incredible. This is where they wanted to take their career. We've had to ask ourselves: who is the superintendent to move this district at this time to move forward. It should be someone who will be uncomfortable, that is where innovation happens."

As Tuesday was likely the last administrative meeting for Dr. Pace, who spent over three decades in Osceola County as a teacher, principal, administrator and superintendent -- and is an alumna of St. Cloud High School -- board members also took the opportunity to thank her for her service.

"You've been a teacher and a mentor for these years, and I thank you," Booth said.

Castillo teared up a moment thanking Pace.

"This is a time to be so proud to be on this board. Ms. Pace, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't because of you. My first meeting I sat (in the front row) and said, 'I want to work with her.' Thank you or giving us the space to learn, grow ... and mess up, with the grace to come back and do the right thing. I speak for many in the county when I say we owe you a lot, and we can't repay you. This is very emotional for me."

Pace offered just a few words in return.

"I have been blessed for the last seven years to work as the superintendent and over 30 in the district," she said. "It's been a privilege to serve. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong, and we've always come back to do the right thing for our students. I look forward to doing what I can to support our incoming superintendent."

Retiring with Pace this summer are Deputy Superintendent of Human Services Tom Phelps and Chief Human Resource Officer Tammy Cope-Otterson.

The district also approved new principal at NeoCity Academy, former assistant principal of Celebration and Gateway high schools Yvette Ponzoa, to replace Michael Meechin; and named Danielle Malfara to replace the departing Anthony Cook as the district's Director of Career and Technical Education.

The district also recognized the county's FHSAA wrestling and weightlifting state champions: Osceola wrestlers Cooper Haase (his fourth gold medal), Anderson Heap, Kealonie Vega and Harmony High's Nelson Toro, who went 46-0 this year; and St. Cloud state weightlifting champions Abby Davis and Mike Ziss.