Major Leadership Change Ahead for Avoyelles Schools!

By Avoyelles Today Staff

The Avoyelles Parish School Board is preparing for one of the most significant leadership transitions in recent history after three of the district’s highest-ranking administrators announced plans to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

Superintendent Karen Tutor, Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater, and Finance Director Mary Bonnette have all announced their retirements effective June 30, 2027, creating three key leadership openings that the School Board says it has already begun planning to fill.

The retirements were discussed during the Board’s July 28 meeting, where members agreed to hold a special meeting on Aug. 11 to begin establishing a timeline for hiring the district’s next superintendent.

Although three retirements at the top of the district may appear unusual, School Board President Aimee Dupuy said receiving multiple retirement notices at the beginning of a new fiscal year is not uncommon.

“July begins our new fiscal year, so it’s not unusual to get multiple retirement notices. We appreciate the notice these employees have given us. It has given us the time to hire qualified replacements, provide training, and ensure a smooth transition. The average tenure of a LA School Superintendent is 3-5 years, and we are blessed to have had Mrs. Tutor dedicate these last six years to moving Avoyelles forward. We congratulate her on a job well done as she begins her well-earned second retirement from public education!”

While many people associate School Board members with budgets and policies, one of their most important duties is hiring the superintendent, who serves as the district’s chief executive officer and oversees daily operations, personnel, and implementation of Board policy.

State law requires the position to be publicly advertised before the Board interviews applicants and votes on a selection.

School Board Vice President Dr. Jay Callegari said the Board understands the importance of the decisions ahead.

“Selecting a superintendent is one of the most important responsibilities entrusted to a School Board. We will follow every legal requirement, conduct a thorough search, and work together to find the best person to lead Avoyelles Parish Schools into the future. We also recognize the importance of filling these other key leadership positions to ensure stability for our employees, our students, and our community.”

Dupuy said the Finance Director position will be filled as soon as possible to allow proper training.

The Avoyelles Parish School Board will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11, to discuss and develop a hire date for the new superintendent. The newly hired superintendent will be responsible for hiring the assistant superintendent.

Regarding the transition, Dupuy said, “All employees will remain in their current roles until retirement and will assist in training their replacements.”

Explaining the hiring process, Dupuy said: “Act 1 shifts all personnel hiring/firing powers to the Superintendent. The Superintendent will hire the Finance Director as soon as possible. As a professional courtesy, the new superintendent will hire their own assistant once they come aboard.”

She added, “RS 17:54 dictates the hiring process for a superintendent, with a minimum of 90 days to complete the process. With this much notice, the board will have ample time to recruit, interview, and hire a qualified replacement. Exact dates will be decided on August 11th during a special board meeting.”

Addressing concerns about district operations, Dupuy said: “As a board and administration, we have invested significant time and effort in moving Avoyelles’ education forward, and we are committed to making sure that progress continues. Through careful budgeting, we are positioned to manage temporary overlap in salaries. We do not anticipate any challenges that would disrupt central office operations, and certainly none in the classroom.”

She continued: “As elected officials, we train year-round. We are always planning, and we will fill these positions with the experience we have gained, and the long-term planning that has prepared us for this moment. This is not the first administration change for Avoyelles, and it will not be the last. What matters most is being prepared and choosing the right candidates to make the transition as seamless as possible for the success of Avoyelles Parish Schools.”

The Board formally accepted Superintendent Karen Tutor’s retirement during the July 28 meeting.