TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County School Board has named its next permanent superintendent, Van Ayres.
Ayres served as the interim superintendent after Addison Davis resigned back in June, and this week, the school board decided not to pursue a national search.
During his first official day as the superintendent, Ayres visited Town & Country Elementary for the district’s annual CEOs in Schools event. Ayres said having grown up in Hillsborough County schools, and having spent his entire career working in the district, everything has come full circle to many people.
“I’m a 30-year teacher and I know exactly who you are, and I appreciate that you are our new leader,” said a teacher at Town & Country Elementary to Ayres as he walked through the halls.
While he may be new to the superintendent role, he’s quite popular in the district.
“Twenty-seven years in the district, it’s my home, and to be able to lead this great district is humbling and an honor, and I look forward to the great work ahead,” Ayres said.
He said he already has his priorities straight, starting with continuing to build a strong culture, and focusing on three key points.
“Around kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency and graduation rates, those three right there if you look at students who are proficient in third grade and then being able to graduate on time, it’s a direct correlation,” he said.
Ayres said one of his biggest challenges will be funding, and although as interim superintendent he supported efforts to negotiate salary increases and employee contracts much faster than in recent years, Ayres said he will meet with the board in January to revisit a public referendum.
“It’s really about having funding available for our teachers, and all of our staff, to compete across all the districts," he said. "If you look at other districts around us, it’s an opportunity for us. We have got to be able to compete."
Ayres’ contract is for four years and an annual salary of $333,000.