Pasco County Schools paid tribute to retiring Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd during the Aug. 20 school board meeting. Gadd will be retiring Sept. 20 after 44 years with the district.
Gadd remembers when he was interning with the district as a psychologist that he had a job offer in Hillsborough County and a job offer at Pasco County Schools. Despite being a broke college kid, he passed on the higher-paying offer.
“Pasco County is where I want to work,” he remembered thinking at the time. “It was the best decision I ever made. I have no regrets.”
Superintendent Kurt Browning touted Gadd’s generosity, hard work, institutional history, disdain for bureaucratic red tape and courage to share a difference of opinion because he believes it’s the right thing for the district.
“I can not imagine having to serve as superintendent of this district for 12 years without having Ray Gadd by my side,” Browning said.
He credited Gadd and former school board member Allen Altman for shepherding the Penny for Pasco campaign in 2004. From that campaign, voters approved a 1-cent sales tax that generated more than $320 million for education over 10 years. Voters supported the campaign again in 2012 and 2022.
Browning said the district would not have been able to build, remodel or outfit schools with buses, technology and other resources had it not been for their work on the campaign.
“There was literally blood, sweat and tears put into that first campaign for the penny,” Browning said. “I’m grateful because I was able to reap the benefits of being the superintendent that had money that was able to build those schools.”
Gadd said he has worked with several superintendents but never had he worked with one with as much passion and compassion as Browning. Under Browning’s leadership, Gadd has had the opportunity to try new things.
“When you engage in innovation, there’s a lot of failure,” Gadd said. “Every now and then when you engage in innovation, you get one right and it’s like yahoo. It takes a strong board and a strong group of peers to stick with it, because usually you hit a couple of failures and you quit. This school board, this school district and the team of people who work around me never give up on trying to innovate and do a better job.”
School board chair Megan Harding thanked Gadd for making sure the district always did what’s best for kids. Harding presented him with a plaque commemorating his 44 years of service to the district.
District 1 rep Al Hernandez thanked Gadd for his friendship and mentorship.
District 2 rep Colleen Beaudoin described Gadd as an innovator.
District 3 rep Cynthia Armstrong said Gadd has a rare talent to see past obstacles to get things done. It also helps that he has people skills and the ability to think outside of the box.
“What you’ve been able to accomplish not only for the school district but also for the county itself has really made our district better,” Armstrong told Gadd. “It’s made the county a better place to live.”
