Will Pinellas Schools Chief Retire?

Ordered to improve her job performance or risk a failing grade, Superintendent Julie Janssen told a room full of reporters Wednesday she is trying to "survive" the School Board's ultimatum.

Janssen also acknowledged that she has considered retiring from her $200,000-a-year job running Pinellas County Schools. She has two years left on her contract.

School board member Peggy O’Shea, who was at the back-to-school press conference, told reporters that the board has three options, if it decides Janssen should leave:

• Terminate her for just cause without pay;
• Terminate without cause and pay her salary for one year;
• Agree on a negotiated settlement with Janssen and her legal representative.

The back-to-school press conference at Countryside High School turned somber for the Pinellas County superintendent when reporters asked Jannsen how she is holding up since the School Board set an Aug. 23 deadline for her to fix problems in her administration.

“I have really focused on the work. That’s how I survive,” Janssen said. “If I were to worry about it, how is that going to help? I focus on all the good things.”

In response to a question about whether she has thought about possible retirement and perhaps teaching college, Janssen responded, “Have I thought about it? Of course. I think everybody thinks about it.”

Janssen anticipated the press questions, starting the media session at Countryside High School by reading a prepared statement:

“This issue will be addressed at the scheduled board meeting on Tuesday. For now I have one job to do, and that is to get school started with teachers in every classroom – the right teachers and the right administrators in every school. I will not waiver from that,” she said.

Janssen will meet with the board Tuesday for a job evaluation and to discuss her employment. Board members said at a June meeting that they had lost confidence in her ability to manage and to complete assigned tasks, including strategic planning.

Wednesday's news conference was filled with educators and members of the media, all wanting to hear what Janssen had to say about the problems she is having with the school board.

During the news conference, presentations also were made about the focus on equity, literacy and teacher appraisal, all components of the school district's Envision 2014 program.