Paul Pastorek has made it official, announcing that that he is stepping down as Louisiana’s superintendent of education to take a job with a major aerospace and defense corporation.
The schools chief, who had served in the post since 2007, has won praise in his state and around the country for setting new and more demanding academic expectations for schools in the traditionally low-performing state. Under his leadership, the state also played a major role in rebuilding schools in New Orleans as the city attempted to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
But Pastorek, 57, also drew criticism from teachers’ unions, local school board officials, and lawmakers during his tenure, who said the school leader was often unwilling to hear their concerns about sweeping changes in education policy.
Pastorek, who previously worked as a lawyer in private practice, said that he will become chief counsel and corporate secretary for EADS North America.
Also see my previous post on Pastorek.