NAPLES, Fla. — Tuesday morning, Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli addressed the Collier County Public School District at Gulf Coast High School, as she begins her first term as superintendent.
Ricciardelli laid out her goals of focusing on collaboration, engagement and inspiration.
She said, "I’m not going to be any different than I’ve always been. Teachers first, students first, administrators first.”
In December, Ricciardelli started as interim superintendent, and in May, the school board voted her in as superintendent. Ricciardelli was born and raised in Naples and has worked in the school district for more than two decades.
Also at the event, guest speakers talked and a few students performed.
Across the state, Florida will have a new curriculum for African American studies this school year. Ricciardelli said on the state will host a virtual training on the new standards on August 7 that Collier County teachers will attend.
Ricciardelli added, “At the end of the day whatever subject they teach, they teach the standards that the state has given us. They don’t teach outside of those standards. There’s not enough time to teach outside of those standards."
Collier County Public Schools start the 2023-2024 school year on August 10.
