HANK DEWALD HERALD STAFF WRITER

Hank Dewald | Daily Herald New Halifax County Schools Superintendent Gerry Middleton speaks to the Halifax County School Board during Monday's meeting. Advertisement

HALIFAX - During a school board meeting Monday night, an overflow crowd heard the Halifax County Schools Board of Education vote 5-2 to appoint Gerry Middleton as the district's new superintendent, starting July 1.

While most of the crowd was there to honor retiring members of the school system and learn who would be named student of the year, all were interested in the new superintendent.

Board members Faye Pierce-Young and Michael Hawkins voted against offering the contract, while board members Charles Swindell, Donna Lynch, Debbie Hardy, Carolyn Hawkins and Tyrone Williams voted in favor.

While the vote was not unanimous, Middleton was introduced to a huge round of applause. She is originally from Halifax County and has come back home after working in both South Carolina and Michigan.

She is leaving the position of deputy superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan, which encompasses 35 schools with an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students.

Middleton brings 30 years of experience as an educator to her new position. Born in Halifax, she graduated in 1968 from Eastman High School, attended Saint Augustine College, Montclair State University, East Carolina University and finally Wayne State University.

Middleton said, “A highlight of my career was leading one of North Carolina's lowest-performing schools to a top-25 performing school in my first year as principal, and maintaining high educational standards as the school achieved School of Distinction within three years.”

She told the audience, “You have afforded me an opportunity to give back to this community for all it has meant to me over my formative and professional years. I look forward to a long and productive partnership on behalf of the children, youth and citizens of Halifax County.”

Middleton, whose contract with Halifax County Schools is for three years, pledged to serve with professionalism, results-focused decision-making, integrity, dedication to children and enthusiasm that will make a difference.

The board also appointed Dr. Elease Frederick as associate superintendent, which is the number-two position under Middleton. Frederick was previously an assistant superintendent. She replaces Carolyn Johnson, who was serving as interim superintendent of Halifax County Schools. Johnson's future with the school district was not known at press time

In other school board actions Monday night, Kenitra Knight was named Halifax County Student of the Year and 13 retiring school board employees were honored by the board. Look for more on these stories in Wednesday's Daily Herald.