Perkins Co. superintendent takes top ESU #15 job

The Perkins County School Board is facing the task of filling a top administrative post before next school year with the resignation last week of Superintendent Phillip Picquet.
The hiring process for the superintendent’s position will be coordinated by the Nebraska Association of School Boards, said board president Chris Fryzek
After a combined 10 years of service to Perkins County Schools as principal then superintendent, Picquet’s last day with the district will be June 30.
Picquet was the high school principal for Grant from 2003-2005 when he accepted the middle school principal position at Waverly Public School. He returned to PCS in 2014 when he accepted the superintendent’s position.
Picquet has accepted the position of administrator at Nebraska Educational Service Unit 15, headquartered in Trenton.
He’ll replace Administrator Paul Calvert, who is retiring.
“I had the goal to become an Educational Service Unit director before my career in education concluded, and fortunately, this opportunity presented itself,” Picquet said.
“I will work alongside schools to provide services to students and their school districts.”
School districts that make up ESU 15 include Chase County, Hayes Center, Dundy County Stratton, Hitchock County, St. Pat’s, McCook, Wauneta-Palisade, Southwest Public School in Bartley and Medicine Valley.
Picquet said his goal is to help PCS in any way he can to find the best superintendent to help lead “this great” school district.
“We have phenomenal staff, students, and tremendous community support,” Picquet said.
“Additionally, we are a progressive, forward-thinking school district that strives to meet the needs of our students. The next superintendent will need and want to understand those things and that is also what will make this position attractive to those seeking the superintendency.”
Picquet said even though he is excited about his new job opportunity, he will miss Perkins County and specifically the direct relationships and interaction with students.
“In smaller districts, such as Perkins County, you are involved with so many things and know your students so well that they do not hesitate to come to your office or stop and talk to you in the hallway,” he said. “That day-today interaction will be missed greatly.”
The PC school board held a special meeting last Thursday to formally accept Picquet’s resignation, and then to immediately start the hiring process with NASB.
Perkins County’s Jr./Sr. High Principal Ben Jones also resigned last week.