On September 9, 2025, John Skretta was voted unanimously by the Board of Education to become the next LPS superintendent following Paul Gausman who announced his retirement in December 2024 due to wanting to explore other opportunities. Initially Skretta was appointed to serve as interim superintendent in January 2025, and LPS was looking for other candidates for the new superintendent. However, Skretta’s kind manner and excellent work, led the Board of Education to a 7 to 0 vote to elect him as the new superintendent. Skretta is eager to start his position and fulfill his duties as LPS’s new superintendent.
“I am ecstatic to continue the work initiated when I was appointed in the interim role in January,” Skretta said. “We have a cohesive team, talented and dedicated LPS staff at every level, and we get to carry out the fundamentally important work of delivering great instruction and programs to support our 42,000+ LPS students every day. It’s a thrill to be in a great district committed to its mission of ensuring every student is prepared for success in careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.”
Skretta is an excellent fit for the position due to his motivation to help LPS students excel and his way of carrying himself with a kind mannerism that has a positive impact on everyone.
“I think Dr. Skretta will be an amazing superintendent for LPS,” Lincoln East High School principal Casey Fries said. “He comes to us with a lot of previous experience as a superintendent and leader in our state. Dr. Skretta is down to earth, approachable, and extremely intelligent. All of these things are needed to lead a district of this size.”
Prior to being the LPS superintendent, Skretta has dabbled in various other leadership positions making him qualified for this role.
“I was hired and came back to LPS as Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement in July of 2024,” Skretta said. “That role has a heavy focus on governmental relations, advocacy, and education policy and partnership work with civic and community groups.”
The previous experience that Skretta had will help him in his current role of superintendent. But being LPS superintendent does come with some changes such as interacting with more individuals within the LPS community and making decisions that will impact numerous lives.
“The biggest change is that in the role of superintendent, while continuing to work in advocacy and education policy, I get to directly support our board members and their governance,” Skretta said. “I have the privilege of visiting schools routinely with board members to support our talented and dedicated building principals and amazing teachers.”
Skretta is prepared for the workload and eager to implement his passion into his career. The shift in superintendents won’t, however, cause too drastic of a change within LPS as both Gausman and Skretta had the same goals.
“I anticipate fully continuing our collective commitments around our Five Year Strategic Plan,” Skretta said. “Supporting our Board of Education and internal team members in attaining our annual goals in the four key quadrants of Student Wellbeing and Outcomes, Staff Wellbeing and Outcomes, District Systems and Operations, and Family and Community Engagement.”
Skretta’s passion for helping students succeed and overall positive energy ensure that he’s an ideal fit for the next LPS superintendent. Let’s wish Skretta an amazing start to his superintendent journey!
