Collier County narrows superintendent search to ‘final four’ list. What we know

The Collier County School Board has chosen four semifinalists for the superintendent position.

A total of 45 applications were received for the position, including one for Interim Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli, who has publicly expressed interest in the position.

Ricciardelli took over as interim superintendent in December after former superintendent Kamela Patton, who was set to retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year, signed a mutual transition agreement with the school board.

What's next?
The first round of interviews will occur at a special board meeting at 8 a.m. on April 19. The board will then narrow down the candidates further and conduct a second interview at a special board meeting at 8 a.m. on April 26.
The superintendent will be appointed at the regular school board meeting at 4:30 p.m. on May 9.
Here are the semifinalists:

Jerry Gibson
Experience

Current superintendent of the Galveston Independent School District in Texas
2016-2021 superintendent of the Marshall Independent School District in Texas
2013-2016 superintendent of the Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District in Texas
2011-2013 executive director of secondary education for the Waco Independent School District in Texas
2010-2011 principal of Whitney High School in Texas
2007-2010 principal of Deweyville High School in Texas
He has also been an assistant principal, teacher and coach

For more information, view his application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.

Leslie Ricciardelli
Experience

Current interim superintendent of the Collier County School District
March 2022-December 2022 deputy superintendent of the Collier County School District
2021-2022 school leadership and performance officer for the Collier County School District
2020-2021 assistant superintendent of school leadership for the Collier County School District
2015-2020 executive director of teacher and learning for the Collier County School District
She has also been a principal, assistant principal, dean of attendance and discipline as well as an ESE specialist

For more information, view her application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.

Marianne Simon
Experience

Current elementary region superintendent for Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville
2018-2019 principal of Arlington Heights Elementary
2014-2018 principal of Reynolds Land Elementary
2011-2014 principal of Waterleaf Elementary
2007-2011 principal of Woodland Acres Elementary
She was also been an assistant principal, ESE reading specialist and ESE teacher in Duval County Public Schools

For more information, view her application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.

Charles Van Zant Jr.
Experience

2020-2022 HR officer for the United States Army, Florida National Guard
2017-2019 executive director of business development for Meteor Education in Gainesville
2012-2016 superintendent of the Clay County School District in Green Cove Springs, Florida
1998-2012 school board member for the Clay County School Board
He has held many positions from 1989 through 2022 for the United States Army and Florida National Guard

For more information, view his application on collierschools.com/superintendentsearch.