Louisiana education superintendent Paul Pastorek, a leader who has received national praise for innovation while generating staunch criticism in his own state, is resigning from the position he’s held since 2007. “It’s been a great four years, but it’s time for me to go,” Pastorek said during a press conference today. Pastorek says he is leaving effective Sunday to become chief counsel and corporate secretary for EADS North America, the aerospace and defense giant led by former LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe. Pastorek and O’Keefe have a friendship stretching back to when they were roommates at Tulane University. Pastorek was general counsel to NASA when O’Keefe led the space agency.
Pastorek received recognition across the country as a reformer who’s helped strengthen accountability in Louisiana education while spearheading state takeovers of failing schools and broadening the charter school movement in the state. As he has received accolades nationally, Pastorek has rankled lawmakers, education unions and some BESE members because of his $377,000 annual pay package, management style, spending practices and staunch support of the state-run school district, whose schools are mostly in New Orleans.
But a majority of BESE members recently praised Pastorek for gains in school and student achievement, increased graduation rates, a reorganization of the Education Department and a $1.8 billion settlement with federal officials to rebuild New Orleans schools damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Gov. Bobby Jindal says he started talking to BESE members about selecting an interim superintendent before Pastorek officially gave word he was leaving. “We wish Paul well, and because of his leadership, we are well positioned to build upon his success to provide our kids with the world-class education they deserve,” he says.
