Carl Skinner, director of Research and Testing for the Newton County School System, has announced his resignation and will soon move to Kansas City, Mo., to serve as the deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction.
The Newton County Board of Education approved several personnel changes during an executive session Tuesday, one of which was a resignation from Skinner, effective at the end of the school year.
According to a resignation letter from Skinner sent to NCSS Superintendent Gary Mathews, Skinner resigned after accepting a position as deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction in the Hickman Mills C-1 School District in Kansas City.
Newton County School System’s former Deputy Superintendent for Operations Dennis Carpenter was named superintendent of the Hickman Mills C-1 School District in December 2012. Carpenter will begin as superintendent of the district July 1.
Carpenter confirmed Wednesday it was no coincidence Skinner took the position in Kansas City, being that Carpenter asked Skinner to take on the role with the Hickman Mills C-1 School District.
“Dr. Skinner is one of the top educators whom I’ve had the opportunity to work with in my 17 years and given his skill set and the needs of the district, I thought it was a natural fit if he was willing to relocate to assist us with the work we are about to embark on in Kansas City,” Carpenter said. “I’m fortunate from the standpoint that he accepted and said yes.”
In his resignation letter, Skinner said he was excited about his new position and he felt remorse as he has thoroughly enjoyed his tenure with Newton County Schools.
“I will forever be thankful to the community and fellow educators,” Skinner said. “I believe that the Newton County School System is moving in the right direction to educate our children, and I feel lucky to have been a small part for these past 11 years.
“I will of course fulfill the remaining portion of my contract and look forward to doing my best these next few months.
I wish only the best for Newton County Schools and its students.”
Skinner served as an assistant principal at Newton High School for seven years from 2002 through 2009, until he took on the role of director of testing, research and evaluation at the central office of the NCSS in 2009.
NCSS Superintendent Gary Mathews congratulated Skinner on his new position.
“We will certainly miss Dr. Skinner as he has done an excellent job as director of testing for NCSS,” Mathews said. “He has a heart for kids and is knowledgeable about school improvement matters; thus, his acceptance of a deputy superintendent’s position. He certainly deserves this opportunity.”
Mathews said the position for the director of research and testing for the NCSS will be posted sometime this week. He said interviews for the position will follow in April and May.
