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Dr. Clayton Wilcox named new CMS superintendent

By Elsa Gillis
By Elsa Gillis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clayton Wilcox of Hagerstown, Maryland was selected as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' new superintendent Tuesday.

The announcement has been two years in the making, after former Superintendent Heath Morrison's sudden departure put Ann Clark in the role as temporary superintendent.

Wilcox comes from the Washington County school system in Hagerstown, Maryland. He previously served as superintendent in Pinellas County, Florida and East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

But he left some of those posts before his contract was up.  The Washington County Schools Board of Education voted in June to extend his contract another four years.

In 2008, a local newspaper in Florida reported he resigned from his superintendent post there before his contract expired to take a job as a vice president at Scholastic Inc.

"We set out to not only find the best superintendent, but the best superintendent for this community," said school board chair Mary McCray. "Based on the input we received from this community, and our interviews with Dr. Wilcox, I am confident that we got both."

In a letter to the community, Wilcox wrote, "I am drawn to Charlotte-Mecklenburg for a number of reasons, first because your core beliefs are my core beliefs - that you and your school board embrace a compelling vision that all students must receive the best education system available anywhere."

“My focus is on making sure that every school in Charlotte is a great school." Wilcox said.

He knows that's the big challenge CMS is facing and what's driving the controversial student assignment plan.  Wilcox is coming to the district just as the Board of Education is looking at school boundaries and potentially reassigning home schools.

"I was the superintendent in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We had the nation's longest continually litigated desegregation case. There, we had magnets and issues related to choice," he said. "I moved to Pinellas County, Florida, and there we took a look at our magnet programs, our specialized programs"

Wilcox was not at Tuesday's announcement because he was telling the Washington County school district about his move. The Board of Education will be introducing Wilcox to the community over the next few weeks and he will be working with Superintendent Clark to ensure a smooth transition.

"He's going to be able to count on my support every step of the way," Clark said.

She plans to stay in Charlotte after her contract is up but is still determining her next step.

He has not signed a contract but a tentative agreement is in place. CMS will vote on the contract in January which will include an annual salary of $280,000 a year.

Wilcox will start work at CMS July 1.

LINK: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

The board appointed Clark to the role on Jan. 27, 2015. Clark, who replaced Heath Morrison after his sudden departure, will continue as superintendent through June 2017. Clark’s appointment was always intended to be temporary.

Board members said in April that they hired McPherson & Jacobson LLC to assist in the search.

Board Chair Mary McCray told reporter Elsa Gillis that the announcement comes sooner than expected. She said it was originally set for Jan. 10.

History of CMS Superintendents:

  • Ann Clark - 2015
  • Dr. Heath E. Morrison - 2012
  • Hugh Hattabaugh (interim) - 2011
  • Dr. Peter Gorman - 2006
  • Dr. Frances Haithcock (interim) - 2005
  • Dr. James L. Pughsley - 2002
  • Dr. Eric Smith - 1996
  • Dr. John Murphy - 1991
  • Dr. Peter Relic - 1987
  • Dr. Jay Robinson – 1977
  • Dr. Roland Jones – 1973
  • Dr. William Self – 1967
  • Dr. A. Craig Phillips - 1961
  • Dr. Elmer Garinger – 1944 (In 1960 became superintendent of new consolidated school system)
  • J.W. Wilson - 1944
  • Dr. Harry Harding – 1913
  • Dr. Alexander Graham - 1888
  • J.T. Corlew - 1886
  • T.J. Mitchell - 1882

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