Larry LeDoux Chosen as School District Superintendent

Kayla Desroches/KMXT

Come July, the Kodiak Island Borough School District will have a new superintendent: current borough assemblyman Larry LeDoux.

Current Superintendent Stewart McDonald turned in his notice of resignation last year, and earlier this month it came down to LeDoux and two other finalists, Cyndy Mika in Texas and Glen Szymoniak from Barrow, to replace him.

LeDoux remembers the day the Board of Education shared its decision with him.

“I received a call to go up to the school board meeting room and they let me know that they had selected me as superintendent. I was very pleased, very humbled, and at the same time this incredible burden falls upon you because there’s a lot of responsibility with the job. When you’re responsible for the success and lives of children, it’s no laughing matter, but I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to work with kids again.”

LeDoux, who has been a Kodiak school district teacher, principal, superintendent, and state Commissioner of Education, often speaks fondly about his school experiences during assembly meetings. Now, he says he’s looking forward to making a difference again.

“It’s why I became a teacher in the first place, it’s why I’ve accepted every position that I’ve been offered. It’s just simply to make a difference in the lives of children. It’s a great responsibility and quite an honor, and I feel very blessed to be a part of that mission and vision.”

LeDoux says he hopes for the community to share that vision and feel involved.

“So, I want to build up community support. I want them to understand the schools and every time they drive by one, that they’ll feel a sense of pride that Kodiak has great schools. The other area I want to work on is to ensure that teachers are appreciated and given the freedom to practice the art of teaching.”

He says it’s vital that teachers be part of any plan that goes forward within the school district.

As for his own future, LeDoux says he’ll spend the next few months working with the administration and school board to ease his transition into the office of superintendent. He also says he will probably exchange one position for another. Once he becomes superintendent, he’ll no longer be a member of the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly. He explains  he can’t imagine being able to successfully fill both roles.

LeDoux takes the position July 1.