PEACHTREE CITY, GA — April 30, 2012 — Dr. Linda Curtis, Acting Director and Area Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) and Department of Defense Dependents Schools, Cuba, (DoDDS-Cuba) announced today today that Mr. Gary Gerstner has been named Assistant Superintendent of the Kentucky District. He replaces Dr. Jo Blease, who will retire at the end of this school year.

Mr. Gerstner most recently served as the Assistant Superintendent of the New York/Virginia/Puerto Rico District. Prior to that, he served as the assistant superintendent for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS-Europe) in the Isles District. He began his career with DoDEA in 1986 as a teacher and coach in Karlsruhe, Germany. He had held several administrative positions in elementary and secondary schools in DoDDS-Europe, DoDDS-Pacific and Louisiana.

“I am most pleased with Dr. Curtis’ decision to assign Mr. Gerstner to the Kentucky District, for he is an outstanding educator,” said Dr. Frank Calvano, Kentucky District Superintendent, “He will be invaluable in the Kentucky District’s march down the road of excellence, as he was in the New York/Virginia/Puerto Rico District.”

Mr. Gerstner earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Education from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He and his wife, Ann, have a son and a daughter.