Chis Renouf will assume his new post on July 1
Ashton Elementary School Principal Chris Renouf has been named the new executive director of elementary schools for the Sarasota County School District, Superintendent Todd Bowden announced on April 12.
Renouf succeeds Laura Kingsley, whom Bowden recently appointed the district’s assistant superintendent/chief academic officer.
Renouf will remain at Ashton for the remainder of the school year and assume his new post July 1, a news release says. Retired principal Wendy Katz will serve as the acting executive director of elementary schools until then, the release notes.
Renouf has been at Ashton since 2012, the release continues. He also served as principal there from 1998 to 2006, when he was selected to lead Toledo Blade Elementary School in North Port, the release explains. He was assistant principal at Venice Middle School from 1995-98, it says, and he taught at Sarasota Middle School and Taylor Ranch Elementary School from 1992-95.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn., a master’s degree in elementary education from Rutgers University and a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from NOVA Southeastern University, the release adds.
During his service at Ashton, “the school was designated a High Performing Model School by the Council for Educational Change, which recognizes the implementation of effective best practices and high levels of staff, parental and community involvement, “ the release notes.
During his six years at Toledo Blade, the release continues, the 1,600-student Title I school each year met annual progress goals required by the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. The State of Florida also recognized Toledo Blade as a Distinguished Title I School, the release says.
Bowden will recommend that the School Board officially approve the appointment as part of its April 18 agenda, the release notes. “District staff will conduct a meeting of parents and staff at Ashton on April 19 to discuss with them the qualities they would like to see in their new principal,” it adds.