Days Creek was able to lure Joe La Fountaine out of retirement for a short and sweet time. But retirement strikes again.
Days Creek’s superintendent submitted his resignation to the school board Monday. He will work through the end of this school year, three years after he was hired as an interim superintendent.
“Mr. L “, as he was known, plans to travel the nation, picking up where he left off during his first retirement.
In reflection of his time at Days Creek, La Fountaine said he’s pleased with the progress the school has made since 2023, but that there is still room for improvement.
“In a position of leadership, you take the job as far as you can and after you leave, you have to have faith in the next person to take it from there,” La Fountaine said. “I have seen where superintendents step down and they’ve left the school in a hot mess. I think the next person at Days Creek will find the staff and students in a healthy position. We’re not perfect. We’ve got room to grow, and we’re set up to do that.”
The school district has begun a search for La Fountaine’s replacement.
La Fountaine said that two current superintendents at other schools have already expressed interest in applying at Days Creek, but could not divulge their names.
La Fountaine’s tenure has been positive, according to staff and students.
“I’m sad to see him go, but I hope he enjoys his time with his wife in retirement,” math teacher Brian Jenks said. “I hope to see it continue in the direction that LaFontaine was leading the school. I’m going to miss his sense of humor.”
Under La Fountaine’s guidance, the school converted it’s on-campus house into a preschool.
He pointed out that attendance has improved by 11 percent in two years.
Standardized test scores have improved at the school.
“What I’m most proud of is what we’ve done as a staff on all of the Fridays that we come here and collaborate,” he said. “We have become better at instruction, and that is reflected in our achievement.”
He wishes he could have finished the community center/cafeteria/second gym project and he hopes that the new superintendent continues and finishes it.
La Fountaine’s last day will be June 22.
“I’m uncertain for the future because there were lots of changes between my first superintendent and LaFontaine,” Spanish teacher Josue Nieves said.
La Fountaine said he and his wife plan to continue touring the United States, picking up where they left off in the east.
