After 28 years, Long Beach superintendent retiring

After 28 years with Long Beach schools -- 13 of those as superintendent -- Carrolyn Hamilton is set to retire at the end of the year.

She led the district through Hurricane Katrina, through changes in education policy and curriculum, and through a push to better test scores and expand programming for students.

Now, she wants to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and travel.

"I've always wanted to teach and work with young people," she said. "I very much enjoy that, watching children grow and learn."

Hamilton grew up in Long Beach and graduated from Long Beach High School when her father was superintendent of the district. She was a band director for 16 years before moving to administration, then spent 10 years as principal at all three levels of K-12 education. Twenty-eight of her almost 39 years in education were spent in Long Beach.

During those 28 years, her biggest challenge was also her biggest accomplishment: Getting students back to school after Hurricane Katrina, she said.

One school was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. Families lost their homes and left. The number of students in the district dropped by more than 600.

"We were hit hard. We lost a lot of population and a lot of students," she said. "This year we reached the pre-Katrina student population, which is wonderful. People are beginning to come back and settle here again. We're very proud of that."

Hamilton also had to contend with changes in curriculum and expectation that have affected the entire state as legislators and top education officials try to determine the best way to improve a struggling education system.

That's come with a sharp increase in testing and several curriculum changes over a relatively short time.

"The accountability that is now in place, there are some good things in place. They're making sure children and students get what they need," Hamilton said. "But that's been a shift. We had four curriculums in four or five years and that was hard. We're getting there and hopefully things stay the same and let schools and teachers adjust and keep improving."

Overall, Hamilton said she's happy with where Long Beach schools are and hopes the district continues down the same path of improving test scores and expanding programs for students.

"I think Long Beach will always work to teach the total child, and that includes all of the fine arts, sports and other activities, which are an important part of what a child learns," she said. "I have truly enjoyed my time here. Long Beach is home so being given the opportunity to work here, that has meant a tremendous amount to me."

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 5:27 AM with the headline "After 28 years, Long Beach superintendent retiring ."