The field of candidates for Lafayette Parish superintendent is back down to 10.

Wayne Alexander, a special education teacher for Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut, withdrew his name from consideration Friday without specifying a reason, according to Lafayette Parish Marketing Director Angie Simoneaux.

The move causes a slight shuffle in the schedule of interviews but does not affect Dr. Donald Aguillard’s interview set for 8 a.m. Thursday in Lafayette.

The St. Mary Parish superintendent threw his hat in the ring for the position with 25 other candidates in early September. Originally touted as the leading candidate for the position, Aguillard did not lead the list of vote-getters during the Lafayette Parish School Board meeting to cull 10 candidates from the original 26.

That position went to Dr. Walter Gonsoulin Jr., who is an assistant superintendent in Mississippi but began his career as an elementary school teacher in Iberia Parish and held administrative positions in St. Martin Parish. Gonsoulin received unanimous support from the eight board members present.

Interviews continue through the end of this week when the board is expected to select two or three finalists.

The board will then visit the finalists’ communities between Nov. 7 and Nov. 18 and hold a public forum with the finalists Nov. 30. Superintendent selection is slated for Dec. 7.