New superintendent visits school campuses

LENOIR, NC (July 10, 2018)…After the first official week as Superintendent of the Caldwell County Schools, Dr. Donald W. Phipps has spent much of his time outside the Education Center visiting schools and becoming better acquainted with administration within the school district.

“I’ve been actively visiting schools,” said Dr. Phipps at Monday night’s School Board meeting. “I’ve walked through 10 or more schools to get familiar with the footprint of the building and to meet the administration at each of the school sites.” Today, he added several more school visits to his list and dedicated time this afternoon to meet with community leaders.

Dr. Phipps was sworn into office on June 28, 2018 and named Superintendent of the Caldwell County schools by the Board of Education, which carefully reviewed applications of 24 candidates from 10 different states. “The Board has been so impressed with Dr. Phipps’ leadership and experience that will best serve this area for years to come,” said School Board Chairman Darrell Pennell.

With a successful career in public education spanning over 20 years in North Carolina, he has served as superintendent for the last eight years in the Beaufort County Schools. Previously, Dr. Phipps served as an Executive Director of Student Services for the Cumberland County Schools and as an assistant principal and principal in the Cumberland County School System from 2001-2006. He began his career in public education as a school psychologist in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but also served successfully at the post-secondary level as Department Chair of the Computer Information Systems program at Pfeiffer University.

Dr. Phipps has an impressive academic background. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Methodist College and went on to obtain a master’s degree in school psychology from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree in computer instructional systems from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Appalachian State University. He is married to Nancy Phipps, and together they have four children and one granddaughter.

Dr. Phipps is very excited and honored to be in Caldwell County. “I look forward to becoming a part of this community and working with partners inside and outside of the school system to make Caldwell County Schools a premier school system in our state.”