Ashton Elementary School Principal Chris Renouf has been named as the new executive director of elementary schools for the Sarasota County School District. Renouf succeeds Laura Kingsley in that position. Kingsley was recently appointed as the district’s assistant superintendent/chief academic officer. Renouf will remain at Ashton for the remainder of the school year and assume his new post July 1. Retired principal Wendy Katz will serve as the acting executive director of elementary schools until then. Renouf has served as Ashton principal since 2012. He had served previously as the principal of Ashton Elementary from 1998 to 2006, when he was selected to lead Toledo Blade Elementary School in North Port. He was assistant principal at Venice Middle School from 1995-98. He taught at Sarasota Middle School and Taylor Ranch Elementary School from 1992-95. He holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., a master’s degree in elementary education from Rutgers University and a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from NOVA Southeastern University. While he was principal at Ashton, the school was designated as a High Performing Model School by the Council for Educational Change, which recognizes the implementation of effective best practices and high levels of staff, parental and community involvement.

Sarasota County Elementary Schools