Janssen Out as Pinellas School Superintendent

Janssen

Julie Janssen didn't make it past the second day of school. The Pinellas school superintendent was fired today by the school board, and they're already eyeing an interim replacement.

After three years on the job, Julie Janssen was unanimously fired by Pinellas School board members, who said she has done a poor job responsing to crises and didn't to take criticism from teacher and parents to heart.

Janssen was fired "without cause," giving her one-year's salary as part of a severance package written into her contract. They'll let her serve for two more weeks. During a news conference after the meeting, Janssen said she wasn't surprised by the verdict.

"I knew what was coming," she said, "and I'm pleased that they trust me enough to give me a couple of weeks, knowing that I'm not here to do harm to this district. My heart has always been for this work and for the kids."

School board members voted to ask former Polk County school superintendent John Stewart to serve as interim head of the school system until a replacement can be hired. Stewart was second-in-command under former Pinellas superintendent Howard Hinesley.