Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has a new superintendent. Here’s what we know about him
Clayton Wilcox will be the next superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the district announced Tuesday. He comes to Charlotte from a small district up in Northern Maryland, and he’ll start work in Charlotte July 1. He’ll make $280,000 a year.
Here’s what we know about him so far:
His resume: Most recently, Wilcox, an Iowa native, spent 5 1/2 years as superintendent of Washington County Public Schools in Maryland, which just awarded him a new four-year contract in June. Before that he was superintendent in East Baton Rouge, La., and Pinellas County, Fla. — a job he left in 2008 to become a senior vice president at Scholastic. When he left the Pinellas job for the higher-paying private-sector job, the district was “facing its most serious budget crisis in years,” according to the Tampa Bay Times, and “the announcement took many by surprise.”
What he cares about: “Engaging and educating all students and using technology to open doors to learning,” according to the Observer. Some of the goals he set for 2016 in his old job include improving student literacy, implementing a technology plan and high-quality professional development. Wilcox’s grandparents emigrated from Mexico and Hispanic students are CMS’ fastest-growing demographic.
What he said: “I’m relentless,” he told the Observer. “I get up in the morning thinking about how to serve kids and I go to bed thinking about it.” (Read Wilcox’s letter to the CMS community.)
What others say about him: He’s “the candid and often controversial superintendent who pushed the Pinellas County school system into a new era.” – Tampa Bay Times.
“We are excited about the perspective he brings.” – Board Chair Mary McCray.
What led to this: Remember Heath Morrison? He was forced to resign back in Nov. 2014 and was replaced by Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark, who has been running the show ever since. The board did a behind-the-scenes search to pick Wilcox.
What’s next: Wilcox’s current job ends in mid-March and he starts in Charlotte July 1. He plans to start visiting monthly in January and weekly in March.
Read more about the selection in Ann Doss Helms’ story here.
Photo: www.wcpsmd.com
This story was originally published December 13, 2016 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has a new superintendent. Here’s what we know about him."