Vidalia — Concordia Parish School District’s interim superintendent Loretta Blankenstein said she would step down in May to spend more time with her family.

Blankenstein originally retired as superintendent in 2012, but returned in an interim role in January 2016 to replace Paul Nelson, who resigned in December 2015.

Blankenstein said she plans to step down for similar reasons as her 2012 retirement, to help her husband, Don, with their family business, Blankenstein’s Supplies and Equipment, and to spend with her 7-year-old daughter.

“I will stay until school is finished to help with the transition,” Blankenstein said. “I love working in the Concordia Parish School System and trying to make a difference for children.

“They are always at the forefront of my mind as I make decisions. It is difficult for me to leave, but we have a wonderful school system. Our district and school faculty and staff, board members, students, parents and communities have been great to work with.”

Concordia Parish School Board President Raymond Riley said the district would begin advertising on March 1. Riley said the advertisement has to legally run for two weeks, at which time the interview process would begin.

Riley said Blankenstein has done a good job for the district.

“She came back and led our system,” Riley said. “We asked her to come back to take over for us until we began a search — that’s what she did.”

School board members Rickey Raven and Fred Butcher also said they have enjoyed working with Blankenstein.

“We asked her to come in and help us, and she has done an excellent job,” Raven said. “I have enjoyed working with her.”

Butcher said Blankenstein has been an innovative leader for the district and he hopes in the search the board can find someone cut from a similar mold.

“I greatly respect Mrs. Blankenstein’s ability to work well with all stakeholders to build connections and foster strong partnerships throughout the community to determine strategic means of progressing our district,” Butcher said. “I believe she has done a great job and has implemented initiatives that will continue to yield results even under the next administration.”

Blankenstein said she believes the school system is headed in a positive direction, but that work still needs to be done toward improvement.

“I hope the new superintendent will be fair, believe in our system and be willing to work with all of our people for a long time to help our parish grow and succeed,” Blankenstein said.

Riley said the district would advertise in several newspapers and on the district’s website. Riley said the school system is in good shape, but he is looking for a superintendent candidate who can take Concordia Parish to the next level.

“Regardless of whether the person is from within the system or from outside, I hope it is someone who can lead our system to be the best system it can be, wholeheartedly,” Riley said. “I am hoping the person will have a background in excelling in whatever system they are a part of.”

Butcher said the system needs a leader who can capture the respect of the community, employees, students, as well as the nine-member school board.

“The candidate should be able to identify the unique qualities and needs of each school in each community across the district,” Butcher said. “We need someone who has the skill set to motivate employees, parents and students to strive for excellence.”