John Stewart's departure for a new job in Gainesville leaves a leadership void, a school board member says.
By THOMAS C. TOBIN
Published August 14, 2003
Once considered a candidate to be the next schools superintendent in Pinellas, John A. Stewart, the district's No. 2 administrator, resigned Wednesday to take a job in Gainesville.
Stewart, 59, will leave his post Sept. 1. He will join the Florida High School Activities Association as an associate commissioner, a top administrative post. The association is the governing body overseeing interscholastic athletics in Florida.
"It leaves a huge hole in the administration of Pinellas County schools," said School Board member Jane Gallucci, one of three on the board who wanted Stewart to replace superintendent Howard Hinesley when he retires late next year.
Stewart removed himself from consideration in June.
Gallucci called him "an advocate for children" who makes decisions "based on what's the right thing to do for kids, not . . . the district."
The deputy superintendent supervises several key areas, notably the district's athletics programs, the research and accountability office and the pupil assignment office, which has been heavily involved in the new school choice system.
Hinesley said he planned to hire a replacement for Stewart soon from within the district.
Stewart came to Pinellas in 2000 as the third deputy to serve under Hinesley. He had been the elected superintendent of Polk County schools for 13 years and a deputy commissioner for the Florida Department of Education, helping implement Gov. Jeb Bush's controversial A-plus plan.
He has 35 years' experience as a teacher and school administrator.
In his resignation letter, Stewart cited his desire to work closer to home. Although he works in Pinellas and keeps a residence here, he commutes to Gainesville, where his wife and other family members live. The FHSAA office is about three miles from his Gainesville home.
He also is a dedicated University of Florida fan.
Stewart agreed in March to be considered as Hinesley's replacement after three board members touted him as someone who could see the district through the next four years without the turmoil of a national search and a major transition.
He never aggressively sought the post and removed himself from consideration after the board became divided over whether to conduct a national search.
His decision cleared the way for such a search, which is in the early stages. The board plans to choose a search firm by late October and have a new superintendent in place by October 2004.
