“Isn’t it ironic … don’t you think”

Singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette made the lyrics famous in the 1990s in her song “Ironic.”

And the words came jolting back to me last week when I heard the latest news on former Concordia Parish Superintendent Kerry Laster.

Two days after Laster packed up her office and served her last day leading the parish school district, she traveled to Baton Rouge to pick up an award — a leadership award.

The parish school board voted in September — though they apparently had their minds made up in July — to remove Laster from her leadership position.

Last week, they sped up the process by buying out her contract and telling her to leave Friday.

The Paul H. Fouquier Educational Leadership Award is given to one educational leader in the state annually.

The Louisiana Association of School Executives gives the award. LASE is a longtime organization that promotes leadership in Louisiana schools.

It is open for membership to administrators, central office personnel, Louisiana Department of Education leaders, college professors and school counselors.

The professional organization has 2,400 members.

The award recipient was selected by a committee that screened candidates from across the state before choosing Laster.

Among the qualities the LASE committee was looking for were, educational leadership, ability to overcome obstacles, educational vision and membership in professional and civic organizations.

Ironic.

Laster was the leader of the parish schools for approximately four years. She was respected by state department of education personnel, and by her office staff.

Most importantly, she was respected by what appeared to be a large portion of the parish citizens.

Despite a few rants at recent meetings, the school board has never given the public a good reason for Laster’s exit. They’ve called her a liar, blamed her for test scores and called for change, but we still don’t know why.

School board elections are four years away.

It’s unlikely these board members will ever have to answer the question of “why?” By the time they are on the ballot again the fervor will have quieted.

Their choice to fill the gap in the interim, Loretta Blankenstein, is a good leader. I’ve liked working with her at Ferriday Lower Elementary.

She’s a no-nonsense chief who is protective of her students. That’s a good trait.

It’s too early to say what the future will hold for the schools of Concordia Parish. But it’s time to move forward.

This mess started in July, and last week’s vote to buy out Laster’s contract was the board’s first smart move.

It was obvious that the parish leadership had come to a halt. The board had no interest in working with Laster, and she didn’t feel she could rightly work with them.

Blankenstein and other central office personnel have a mighty task ahead. They need community support, and hopefully they’ll get it.

But it’s awfully ironic that someone else will now reap the benefits of the great leader Concordia Parish once had. Don’t you think?

Julie Finley is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.finley@natchezdemocrat.com.