Gail F. McKinzie, Ph.D.
Ex Officio Member
Dr. McKinzie is Polk’s first superintendent appointed by the school board and became superintendent on November 16, 2004.
She is in her 21st year as a superintendent, holding positions in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and in Indian Prairie School District 204 in suburban Chicago before accepting the Polk position.
Dr. McKinzie is committed to improving the achievement for all students by focusing personnel and resources to meet the learning needs of students preK-12. This is being accomplished through several district-wide curriculum projects with greater emphasis on the inclusion of special needs students and providing enriching opportunities for our gifted students. In addition, administrator and teacher training in data analysis, application, and implementation is being required.
Among her key initiatives are:
- increasing the number of Advanced Placement courses at the high school level and the number of students successfully passing these courses
- professional development in the area of reading, math, science and writing instruction for all teachers
- improving the content and consistency of the courses offered in middle schools and high schools
- working with individual schools to address the needs of low performing students.
- increasing the number of minority staff
- increasing the number and quality of high school career academies.
Dr. McKinzie was a classroom teacher, school principal and a district office administrator before becoming a superintendent. She has been honored with the Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate award from Iowa State University’s College of Education, one of her alma maters. The award is the highest alumni honor bestowed by the school’s College of Education. She received a doctorate in Education from Iowa State in 1976.
In 2007, Dr. McKinzie was named Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Art Education Association for the school district’s exemplary arts education programs. She was also named 2007-2008 Administrator Of The Year by the Florida Music Educators’ Association for her ardent support of school music programs.
