Park City School District Superintendent Jill Gildea is planning to leave the district after January 2025.
According to a Sept. 16 letter obtained by The Park Record that she wrote addressed to the “Park City School District team,” she’s submitted her intent to retire from the district.
“Our journey was marked by moments of both opportunity and challenge, yet we consistently maintained our focus on delivering an exceptional education for all students,” her letter says. “The accomplishments we’ve achieved reflect the tireless dedication, collaboration, and shared vision of our entire district team, community partners, and supporters.”
Among the accomplishments she said she’s achieved collaboratively with others in the district, she mentioned expanding preschool access, removing financial barriers, launching initiatives like the “We All Belong” campaign and expanding partnerships within the community.
“These accomplishments are a testament to everyone’s efforts — from our Board of Education to our dedicated educators, staff and community members,” the letter states. “I’m especially grateful for our collaborative work with the Park City Education Foundation and the role they’ve played in driving innovation and student support.”
Her announcement comes about a month after Colorado Early Colleges announced on its website on a now unavailable page that Gildea was the sole finalist for the public charter school organization’s chief executive officer opening.
A week after that organization’s board voted on her as the lone candidate, Park City School Board’s three lame-duck members Andrew Caplan, Wendy Crossland and Anne Peters renewed her contract despite opposition from their two peers whose terms will not end this year, Meredith Reed and Nick Hill. Both of them voted against the renewal.
The broader community had also urged the board to delay renewing the contract, citing issues the district has faced with Gildea at its head.
Since she was hired in 2018, the district illegally stored toxic dirt on school grounds in violation of a covenant with the Environmental Protection Agency, had 180 cases of student-to-student harassment including some that were not properly resolved according to an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and was the subject of a state audit in fall 2023 that showed the district lacked in assistance to students qualifying for federal help.
During her time there, the district has also managed to be one of the best in Utah to weather and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, was ranked fifth best in Utah according to the U.S. News & World Report and was put on the College Board’s honor roll for its enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, particularly among students who are traditionally underrepresented and come from families with low income.
Board members never answered if Gildea informed them she was seeking new employment as her 2023 contract with the district required, something her then-contract required her to do.
“Jill Gildea has served the children and community of Park City with distinction for six years,” Caplan said when asked if the board was informed of the superintendent applying for other jobs. “If she chooses to pursue employment elsewhere, the board wishes her the best of luck and thanks for her exemplary service to our schools.”
Gildea has not answered whether or not she has accepted a job offer in Colorado.
“Looking ahead, I’m confident that the strong foundation we’ve built together will continue to serve the district well,” she said in her letter to others in the district. “Thank you for the continued support, collaboration, and belief in our shared mission to inspire and support all students to achieve their optimal academic and social potential. Wishing you continued success in the years to come. I’ll be cheering you on from afar.”
Josh Mann, one of the organizers of a change.org petition that urged the board not to renew Gildea’s contract, said he’s happy the petition helped promote the community’s discussion about the contract.
“I believe that local politics are one place where we can all make a difference,” he said.
Karl Persson, the other petition starter, said he thinks people are ready to move on from Gildea’s tenure in Park City.
“I feel that the community is ready to put this era behind us and move forward, and encourage the next school board to choose a superintendent who values transparency, accountability, and prioritizes teachers and student well-being and success,” he said.