SALISBURY — Dr. Judy Grissom, superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury School System, sent an email to staff Saturday saying she plans to retire Sept. 30.
“For the last year I have been discussing my retirement with the Board. There has always been one more project that I wanted to tackle. I believe that there will always be one more project. I have told the Board that I would like to retire September 30,” Grissom said in her email.
Grissom, who has spent 44 years in education, said, “This is the hardest decision I have ever made.”
Richard Miller, chairman of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, said Saturday that Grissom has been a “tremendous superintendent” and will be missed.
“She’s been a terrific instructional leader and has certainly taken schools and student performance to new level because of that,” he said. “It’s going to be very difficult to find replacement to fill her shoes.”
Miller said the school board will work with the N.C. School Boards Association to find a new superintendent. The state association offers a service that includes sending out announcements, collecting resumes and bringing them back to the local board for review.
Assistant Superintendent Gene Miller agreed that Grissom will be hard to replace.
“She has been fantastic superintendent,” he said. “I don’t think the people in this county really realize all the good things she has done for this school system. She brought all kinds of awards and recognitions to the school system.”
He added that one of the main reasons he hasn’t retired yet is because of Grissom. He had planned to leave earlier, but she asked him to stay with the school system until the central administration office project is finalized.
“I’m sorry she is retiring,” he said. “But she worked long and hard, and it’s a well-deserved retirement.”
In her email, Grissom said, “I am passionate about this school district — we have wonderful staff and students and should be very proud of RSS. I have told the administrators that I have no intention of being a ‘lame duck.’ I will work as hard as I can during the next six months to move our district forward. The road has not always been easy for any of us — I know this year has been extremely tough on our staff with all of the changes. I do hear great things and see great things in the schools and classrooms and I know all of you care about the success of our students.”
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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