“I’M COMING HOME” BCPS SELECTS PETER LICATA AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT

Broward County Public School Board (BCPS) announced the selection of Dr. Peter Licata as its next superintendent. The country’s sixth-largest school district announced the selection after a nationwide search. Licata is set to be in place prior to the start of the 2023/24 school year. He was selected via a 7-2 board vote. East Baton Rouge Louisiana School District Superintendent Dr. Sito Narcisse received the other two votes.

BCPS Board Chair Lori Alhadeff announced the selection, saying, “I am so excited to introduce the next superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, Dr. Peter Licata. I believe he is the transformational leader that we were seeking.”

By joining BCPS, Licata is coming full circle, returning to the school district where he was once a first-grade student at McNab Elementary School in Pompano Beach.

“I’m coming home. We will change Broward County to an A (school district),” Dr. Licata said, “We are down the street from where I was born and where my wife was born.

Licata began his almost 30-year career in education as a teacher and basketball coach for the School District of Palm Beach County and has continued to advance his leadership career – most recently holding the position of South Region Superintendent. In this role, he oversees 60 schools, 65,000 students, more than 5,000 teachers and four instructional superintendents.

Licata comes from a family of teachers and was inspired to pursue his career by his father.

“It was at my father’s funeral, when thousands of people came to me to say what an impact, as coach and algebra teacher, my father had on their lives. That day I became a teacher.” Licata said during his public remarks at the school board’s public interview.

Licata’s experience includes 15 years of teaching and leading at the middle and high school levels, and 14 years at the district-leadership level as Director of Secondary Curriculum and Assistant Superintendent, before becoming a regional superintendent.

“Our goal has remained to find the most qualified candidate to lead our schools while maintaining our dedication to excellence in education and to preparing our students to reach their highest potential,” Alhadeff commented. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Licata to Broward County Public Schools.”

During the interview process, the new superintendent laid out his vision to get the school system to become an ‘A’ district.

“It’s my vision and mission that every child that starts school at BCPS has an experience as memorable as mine with the same opportunities. I know being born and raised in Broward County doesn’t automatically qualify me as the best candidate, but I believe it gives me a unique perspective and knowledge of the county… Broward County is where I was born, raised, married, and I now want to make it the best educational system in all of Florida as superintendent.”

PRESCHOOLS/SCHOOLS

Academic School 4 Arts

8673 Stirling Rd, Cooper City as4a.org

954-999-5956

Academic School 4 Arts i s a learning institution that nurtures the whole child, utilizing the gifts of the fine and performing arts. The fine and performing arts are treated as equal learning disciplines with core academics. AS4A promotes mindfulness, problem-solving skills, independent thinking, and celebration of diversity. We help mold great citizens!

All Saints Catholic School

10900 W Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise allsaintscatholicschool.net

954-742-4842

The Mission of All Saints Catholic School is to provide an atmosphere rich in the Catholic faith where each child is challenged to grow spiritually, academically, and emotionally in a safe and nurturing environment. They offer instruction for Prek–8th grade.

American Heritage School

12200 W Broward Blvd, Plantation ahschool.com

954-472-0022

A nationally ranked private school with a college preparatory curriculum that provides its’ elite students with a rigorous education that is held to the highest standards. The school’s graduates excel academically, socially and physically.

Beth Emet School

4807 S Flamingo Rd, Cooper City templebethemet.org

954-680-1882

Beth Emet School is committed to helping students reach their full potential through a challenging, advanced curriculum with a warm, supportive environment that promotes critical thinking, creative expression, self-esteem, emotional learning and Jewish ethics.

Christi/STEPSS Academy

3495 Hiatus Rd, Sunrise christiacademy.com

954-749-6869

An accredited Christian private school providing mainstream education, and also specializing in ESE, Autism, and other Special Needs with an innovative and faith-based approach to learning.

Developmental Pre-School & Kindergarten DPK

11401 W Broward Blvd, Plantation dpk1.com

954-472-4673

A unique academic setting offering children a fun and exciting environment to develop healthy and positive self-esteem, communication abilities, and learning skills. Individualized instruction enables each child to learn at his/ her own rate in classrooms with a low student-teacher ratio.

Franklin Academy

4500 NW 103rd Ave, Sunrise franklin-academy.org

754-206-0850

Highly qualified teachers and administrators actively collaborate to create a rigorous and intensive curriculum that is focused on enhancing critical thinking skills of all students. Franklin Academy’s academic content is aligned with the Common Core State Standards with the intent and commitment to promote literacy, reading and writing skills across the curriculum for grades K-12.