unanimously approving a one-year extension<\/a> of her contract and a raise. Weiss, in an interview the day after that decision, she didn’t know how long she might want to remain superintendent.<\/p>\n“I’m in my own town doing the work I love supporting my community and supporting the school district,” she said. “I don’t have a specific end date to that.”<\/p>\n
Weiss was born and raised in Juneau, where she graduated from high school. She attended college in Washington state and then spent 26 years in Spokane as a teacher, coach and administrator and superintendent. She then returned to Alaska and was the principal of North Pole High School for four years before becoming the director of student services for the Juneau School District for the next four years until she was named superintendent.<\/p>\n
During her time as superintendent Weiss she has collaborated with local government and organizations on projects including Alaska Native language revitalization, early childhood education and suicide prevention. She is also a frequent fixture in crowds at school activities.<\/p>\n
“I was blindsided by it,” said Emil Mackey, a Juneau School Board member. “I didn’t know it was coming, but it’s not atypical for someone to leave the position after three or four years, it’s a grueling, grueling job — I’m surprised she lasted this long.”<\/p>\n
Mackey said although Weiss will be “greatly missed” by many within the schools and the community, he thinks there are still some good things to come out of this situation including bringing in someone new with a fresh perspective that adapts to the district in a different way.<\/p>\n
Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorensen said she was also surprised by the news of Weiss leaving the district, remarking Weiss was “an exceptionally good superintendent” and will leave behind some “exceptionally large shoes to fill.”<\/p>\n
Sorensen said the school district will be in the process of seeking out a new superintendent once the board receives a formal letter of Weiss’s decision. She said it was exciting to have Weiss as a superintendent because of her roots in Juneau, and Weiss was always committed to the students and the entire Juneau community.<\/p>\n
“Of course the loss of superintendent Weiss is a big loss to the school district, but we appreciate that she needs to do what she believes is best for her and the next best steps for her,” she said.<\/p>\n
Weiss, on Wednesday, said she’s proud to be a part of the district, how it navigated the difficult few years through the pandemic and the students.<\/p>\n
The announcement of her decision was timed to give ample time for the board to find a replacement, Weiss said. She said she will submit her resignation letter to the board at their November meeting.<\/p>\n
“I want the absolute best for Juneau,” she said.<\/p>\n
Weiss said she wants the time to “take a deep breath” to figure out what her future holds. She said she may fully retire or seek something entirely new, but she is retiring from K-12 education.<\/p>\n
“Things will come along — or maybe I will ride off into the sunset,” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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