TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School Board selected an interim superintendent during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.

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Van Ayres is currently the Chief of Strategic Planning and Partnerships for Hillsborough County Public Schools.

There was some debate at the start, but the board voted unanimously to appoint Ayres.

“I am overwhelmed right now but so excited about this opportunity to lead this place. We, this is the best school district in the nation and we’re going to show it and I’m just so excited. Thank you," Ayres said.

According to a news release from the school system, Ayres comes from a family of educators. His father and mother were both dedicated teachers in Hillsborough County Public Schools.

His father, Van, taught at Leto High School for 33 years. His mother, Nuri Ayres, spent 35 years in Hillsborough County Public Schools, as a math teacher at Webb Middle and Jefferson High School and then a beloved principal at both King and Sickles high schools.

Ayres graduated from Jefferson High School in 1992. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Tampa, he began his teaching career in 1997 as a science teacher at Blake High School.

“I am truly honored to lead this district. Hillsborough County Public Schools is my home and I know this is one of the best school districts in the nation. We have a lot of work ahead of us as we prepare to open schools and welcome our 210,000 students back to the classrooms. I look forward to this opportunity and thank the School Board for their confidence in my leadership,” Ayres said. 

A vote also passed Tuesday to extend the interim superintendent's term from six months to twelve.

Ayres will start his term on July 15.

Board Chair Nadia Combs said the district will begin a nationwide search for candidates.

While Combs said there are many qualified internal candidates, they plan to broaden the search. 

“I am confident we will have dozens, well over a dozen, very good candidates apply,” Combs said. “I’m very confident and as I look around in our cabinet, I can think of three or four people who I think would be some great leaders as well.”

Superintendent Addison Davis submitted his resignation last week, stating he will step down effective July 14. His contract was originally through June 2027. While Davis gave no formal reason for his resignation, he stated he planned to return home to the Jacksonville area.

The Hillsborough County School District is the 7th largest in the nation. While the district is now off the state’s financial watch list, money remains tight.

“We are very fortunate that we are in a better financial situation but we are going to have to continue to make sure that we rightsize our district and that our classrooms are not overfilled, but that we also don’t have students in small classrooms,” Combs said. “I feel like whoever comes in… we’re in a better financial situation.”

Combs said Davis is on good terms with both district leadership and school board members and she anticipates a smooth transition.

“I think when a parent comes into a school, I don’t think they’re thinking, who is the superintendent? Or who’s on the school board?” she said. “I think they’re thinking, who is my principal? Who is my child’s teacher or bus driver? We’re doing a wonderful job with that and we have the leaders to continue to do that work.”

A meeting on school boundary changes will follow.