WUFT · Alachua County School Board selects Shane Andrew as interim superintendent
The Alachua County School Board voted 3-2 in favor of Shane Andrew as the new interim Alachua County Superintendent in Tuesday's meeting.
Chairman Robert Hyatt and board member Tina Certain nominated and voted for Andrew, who previously served as the Chief of Operations.
"He's tried to be a principal of all the students, had a great concern even before I sat in this seat," Certain said in the meeting. "A mind toward equity."
On Zoom, board member Leatta McNealy suggested acting superintendent, Donna Jones, and former superintendent, Dr. Owen Robers, but later voted for Andrew.
Jones was appointed as acting superintendent after Carlee Simon was fired from the position on March 2, 2022. With Simon gone, Andrew will be the districts' seventh interim superintendent in the last 10 years.
Before the vote, Jones announced her retirement and asked not to consider her name.
School board members Mildred Russell and Dr. Gunnar Paulson voted no and suggested retired administrator, Kathy Black.
Andrew said he's excited to be working as the interim superintendent and plans to focus on mental health for the remainder of the school year. Reflecting on his start as a substitute teacher and coach in his 31-year career, he never imagined getting to this level.
"I went K-12 here, so I was a Glen Springs Tiger, a Westwood Whirlwind, and a Buchholz and bobcat," Andrew said. "This community, as someone mentioned that called in earlier, has shaped me. Public education is what has shaped me."
Whether he's a temporary or permanent superintendent is not a concern to Andrew, he said, adding he wants to leave that decision for the school board.
"I'm not making a play for that right now, and I've been in the business for 31 years," Andrew said. "So, I'm kind of let's take it one day at a time, let's take care of our student's needs."
All the board members congratulated Andrew and said they look forward to working with him.