Superintendent Stone announces retirement

LENOIR, NC (September 15, 2017)…At a special called meeting of principals, administrators and Education Center staff, Dr. Steve Stone, Superintendent of the Caldwell County Schools, officially announced his plans to retire on June 30, 2018.

“This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” said Dr. Stone. “Knowing that the school district is in excellent shape, eases the transition, but I will always be a champion for the Caldwell County Schools.”

This June marks 12 years of service in the Caldwell County School System and 20 years as a superintendent, which ranks Dr. Stone as the 2nd highest tenured superintendent in North Carolina. Prior to Caldwell County, he served four years as superintendent in Edgecombe County Schools and in Hertford County Schools. On June 30, he will have served 38 years in public education, an accomplishment that he proudly shares.

 “I believe in the principles of public education and have dedicated nearly four decades to contributing to its sustainability and success,” said Dr. Stone. “I am also proud to be a product of public education. I live and breathe public education.”

Dr. Stone grew up in eastern North Carolina in Person County and was inspired by his 11th grade history teacher to become an educator. “Miss Elliott was the hardest teacher I ever had, but she was the best teacher I ever had, and I took every single one of her courses. I owe it to her influence for where I am today.”

Dr. Stone received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and his Doctorate from North Carolina State University. He has served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, school level principal, central office Director and Superintendent.  

During his tenure Dr. stone was selected as the 2014 Superintendent of the Year for the Northwest RESA. He has been an active member of numerous organizations and boards, to include North Carolina Association of Educators, Caldwell County Association of Educators, the New Schools Task Force, the Northwest RESA Superintendents’ Council and Board of Directors, the ASU Leadership Council, the Communities in Schools Board of Directors, Smart Start Board of Directors, and Rotary International. He served as chairman and founding member of Robin’s Nest, an advocacy organization for sexually and physically abused children.

In addition to his commitment to education in Caldwell County, Dr. Stone said that he came to Caldwell County with the intention of moving here and making it his home.

“However, I do not intend to relax for the next 9 months,” said Dr. Stone. “There’s a lot to be accomplished this school year, and I may begin to look at the next chapter in my career after the last school bus transports students home, after the Project Graduation celebration of our 2018 graduates and after the last teacher closes her classroom door for summer break.”

Dr. Stone said he announced his retirement now to allow adequate time for the Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive superintendent search. The Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 6:00 pm at the Education Center to begin discussion on hiring a new superintendent for the Caldwell County Schools.