By DONNA HARRIS

dharris@sunherald.com

HANCOCK COUNTY – A former Bay-Waveland school superintendent who led the district through Hurricane Katrina has died.

Kim Stasny died Wednesday, a few days after undergoing surgery for a brain tumor. She was 55.

Stasny was a principal for the Hancock County School District from 1987-90, continuing with the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District through 1996.

She served as assistant superintendent from 1996-99 and superintendent from 1999-2009.

Superintendent Rebecca Ladner sent an email district-wide Wednesday after learning of Stasny’s death.

“It is with great sadness to inform you that our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Kim Stasny, passed away this afternoon,” she wrote. “As you remember, Dr. Stasny was a fighter as she fought so valiantly for her students and staff after Katrina. We will truly miss her.”