DR. DAVID GAYLER SWORN IN
AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

(Bradenton, FL. - October 15, 2012) Dr. David Gayler was officially sworn in as interim Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County during a special meeting of the Manatee County School Board on Monday, October 15, 2012, at 10 a.m. in the Board Chambers at the School Support Center in Bradenton.

The School Board unanimously voted to appoint Dr Gayler as the interim Superintendent at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 8th.

Dr. Gayler, who served as Superintendent of Schools in Charlotte County from May 2002 until January 2011, accepted the appointment with the understanding he would serve until March 29, 2013.

Addressing the School Board, District employees and the community for the first time as Superintendent, Dr. Gayler expressed three goals he would like to accomplish during his tenure.

The first goal is to unite the School Board around a small number of priorities they can unanimously agree to as a group. To that end, Dr. Gayler plans to hold a daylong priority-setting session with the members of the School Board, perhaps as soon as Monday, November 5th.

“We have to agree on some priorities, we have to agree on some goals.” Dr. Gayler said. “And I don´t mean 5-1 or 4-2; I mean 6-0 (the five board members and the superintendent).”

The second goal is to examine the district´s finances to see if funds can be found to help support teachers and other employees. Dr. Gayler made it clear he would be looking at this school year´s budget, and that his focus would not be connected to or impact the scheduled forensic audit of previous school years.

The third goal is to assist the School Board in its search for a new, fulltime superintendent. Although he said he would not make any recommendations on who to hire, Dr. Gayler did say he would like to help the School Board establish a process that would result in hiring the best candidate possible.

Finally, Dr. Gayler said he knows the Manatee District has been through a difficult time, but he believes the community is ready and willing to support a school district that is moving forward.

“There a lot of people who show up right there at that podium and detract,” Dr. Gayler said. “I would like to see people show up at that podium and say this to the school board and superintendent: ‘If we see you move in a good direction, and we see you working together putting kids first; we´ve got your back and we will support you in word and deed.’”

A veteran educator of more than 35 years, Dr. Gayler served as an Assistant Superintendent in Manatee County from July 2001 until May 2002, and as an Assistant Superintendent in Indian River County from 1995 to 1998.

Dr. Gayler has a Ph.D., in Educational Policy/Administration from the University of Kansas, a Masters of Education/Special Education from the University of Florida and a Bachelor´s of Science degree from the University of Florida.