On Tuesday, July 17th, at the annual JCS Administrative Leadership Academy, Dr. Ed Croom was announced as the Central Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year! Dr. Neil Pedersen, Executive Director of the Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance (RESA) presented Dr. Croom with a plaque in honor of Dr. Croom’s award winning leadership. According to Dr. Pedersen, the wording on the plaque says it all, “For his strong, steady, visionary, and humble leadership of the Johnston County Schools†Principals, assistant principals, Central Services staff, and JCS Board of Education members greeted the news with a standing ovation.
Dr. Patrick Rhodes, superintendent of Orange County Schools and Central Carolina RESA president, chaired the selection committee. He commented that Dr. Croom is a caring and thoughtful district leader who has done a great deal across the region in various leadership roles to promote the growth of students and staff. “His work as chairman of the High Five Triangle group has been instrumental in partnering with the SAS Institute to help school systems develop curriculum for the new Common Core Standards. Dr. Croom has done a tremendous job leading the High School Athletic Association in the realignment process for Eastern North Carolina. He is widely respected by the superintendents in the Central Carolina RESA, as well as his peers across the state. Dr. Croom is known as a tireless advocate for all children in North Carolina. Most importantly, the people that he works with each day in Johnston County evidenced this in their nomination for him as Superintendent of the Year.â€
Dr. Croom, humbled by the award, stated that the credit belongs to the staff, students, parents, and the strong community support found in Johnston County.