School Board members have chosen four final candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools. Here is a list of the candidates chosen:

• Edward Tierney, Deputy Superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District
  • written answers to questions.
• Laura Leitaert, current Principal of Coral Shores High School
  • written answers to questions.
• Amber Acevedo, current Deputy Superintendent of the Monroe County School District
  • written answers to questions.
• Darren Burkett, Deputy Superintendent of the Collier County School District
  • written answers to questions.

Click here to access the video answers to board member questions from the finalists

Click here to access a video of public interviews of the finalists, conducted May 1, 2025 (Bookmarked for each candidate)

The finalists will be visiting the Keys in person to conduct interviews with individual board members, public interviews with the entire board and a series of meet-and-greet events where community members from all areas of the Keys will have the opportunity to speak with them. Community members will also be given the opportunity to give their opinions about the finalists during the process.

For details of the upcoming timeline, click this link. The dates and locations for the meet and greets are:

• April 30th, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo

• May 1st, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Marathon High School

• May 2nd, 6 - 7:30 p.m., Beachside Resort and Residences, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. in Key West.

• Public interviews will be held on May 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marathon High School.