Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
After seven years as superintendent of the Carson City School District, Dr. Mary Pierczynski announced Tuesday she will retire when her contract expires in August.
"It was a difficult decision because I've really enjoyed the work. I've enjoyed the children," she said in an interview before the Carson City School Board meeting Tuesday evening. "This has been a wonderful experience, and I hope there are new opportunities out there."
Pierczynski began her teaching career in 1971 in North Carolina for six years.
She then moved to the airline industry for 10 years. She was base manager of Republic Airlines in Minneapolis when she met Dr. Ed Pierczynski, a family practitioner in Carson City, whom she later married.
Upon moving to Carson City in 1977, Pierczynski returned to education as a guidance counselor at Carson High School.
"I really got back to doing what I wanted to do," she said. "And that was working with kids."
From a counselor, she moved up to dean of students, assistant principal, principal and associate superintendent, until taking over as superintendent when Jim Parry retired in 2001.
Her husband, known as "Dr. Chili" for his chili-making prowess, retired six years ago and has been eager, she said, to spend more time together - and time is something that has been scarce.
"This job isn't a job," she said. "It's a way of life. It's a wonderful way of life, but it's all consuming."
School board trustee Bob Crowell said he supports her decision to spend more time with her family, but it isn't easy to see her go.
"She's been a wonderful asset to the Carson City School District," he said. "We wouldn't be where we are in this town or in this school district without her.
"They say no one's indispensable, but Mary Pierczynski is pretty close to that bar."
During her tenure, the school district has moved from deficit spending to a surplus in every budget.
Challenges, like tumultuous contract negotiations in 2003 along with poor scores from No Child Left Behind, have been turned to successes.
Carson City school employees received some of the highest pay raises in the state last year and all nine schools reached Adequate Yearly Progress in the 2006-07 school year.
The district's bond rating was also improved last year, saving taxpayers money in interest as the bonds are paid off.
But Pierczynski is reluctant to accept the credit.
"I think it goes without saying," she said, "that you cannot have this kind of academic success with a diverse school population without having hard-working people at the schools. They're the key to everything working."
She listed teachers, administrators and students as being responsible for the success, as well as her "team" at the district office.
"I've had good school boards, too," she added.
She's also grateful to the community.
When she started, voters had just passed an $18 million school bond in the 2000 election for general improvements throughout the district.
Since then, voters approved a $3.75 million bond in 2002 and a $25 million bond in 2006. The latest received 64 percent of the vote.
"A lot of people voted for the bond who don't have children or grandchildren in school," she said. "I'm optimistic that people understand the importance of supporting these little ones."
Pierczynski said she is announcing her retirement in advance so the board will have time to plan for the transition.
"I still have several months left," she said. "We're not going to lose focus on what we're doing."
Trustee John McKenna said that is typical of Pierczynski, who, he said, has transformed the district through her ability to plan long term.
"I hate to see her go," he said. "She's one of the best things to happen to the Carson City School District. 'Class act' is the phrase I'd use, except it's too cliched."
• Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.
Awards
Among the awards Superintendent Mary Pierczynski has received include:
• Nevada Superintendent of the Year from the Nevada Association of School Boards in 2003 and 2005.
• Nevada Superintendent of the Year from the Nevada Association of School Superintendents in 2006.
• Distinguished Service Award from the Nevada Association of School Boards in 2007 for her work on behalf of all schools in the 2007 Legislature.