Wayne County Public Schools leader runs last board meeting
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 3, 2015 1:46 PM
Dr. Sandra McCullen
Monday night marked the interim superintendent's last meeting with the Board of Education.
Dr. Sandra McCullen was appointed to the role Dec. 1 by her predecessor, Dr. Steven Taylor, who retired.
Mrs. McCullen is closing out a 42-year career in education at the end of this month when Dr. Michael Dunsmore, currently superintendent of Tyrrell County Schools, steps in as superintendent.
She thanked the school board, leadership team and central office staff for their support over the past six months.
Board member Dr. Dwight Cannon said she had brought a "maternal flavor" to the role.
Board member Eddie Radford said he had known Mrs. McCullen for a long time -- recalling her "steady increase up the ladder" from teacher to principal to associate superintendent.
"I don't think you've done a very good job here. I think you have done a great job," he said. "You tackled some problems that some other people wouldn't have tackled. You have really impressed me."
Vice Chairman Arnold Flowers also had a history with Mrs. McCullen, having known her since childhood.
"I have never seen her when she wasn't a pleasant person," he said. "I have enjoyed working with you."
Board Chairman Chris West admitted he and Mrs. McCullen had shared some "contentious conversations."
"We have agreed to disagree but we have agreed more than we haven't," he said. "She has really put (in) a lot of time. I have never been to her with a situation or concern that she let the sun set on it. She has always taken it and looked into it."
Mrs. McCullen is a Wayne County native, having attended Seven Springs High before transferring to Southern Wayne the first year it opened, when she was a sophomore.