WS Chronicle

By Tevin Stinson 

The Chronicle  

On Monday, April 28, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) Board of Education held a special called meeting to discuss the process for selecting an interim superintendent.  

What We Know 

During the Board of Education meeting on April 22, Superintendent Tricia McManus announced that she will be retiring.  

McManus first joined WS/FCS as deputy superintendent in June 2020. She has served as superintendent since February 2021. McManus said retiring will allow her to focus on her growing family. Her first grandchild was born in summer 2024.  

“We are deeply grateful to Superintendent McManus for her unwavering dedication to this community. She is a relentless advocate for our schools and has worked tirelessly for children,” said Board of Education Chair Deanna Kaplan. “She will leave our district stronger. We will miss her positive attitude. She is an all-in superintendent. There are no words to express our gratitude. We are excited for her as she moves on to this new chapter in her life.”  

During her time at WS/FCS, McManus oversaw the district’s return to in-person classes after the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed for schools to make academic recovery. Under her leadership, the district adopted a series of “Future Ready” initiatives, with a focus on enhancing inclusion, sense of belonging, and deeper learning.  

McManus said she is proud of what the district has accomplished in the last five years, including improved proficiency in math and reading, the district reaching its highest ever graduation rate, and increases in the number of students of color taking Advanced Placement courses and taking three or more Career Technical Education credentials. Under her tenure, the district increased the number of students taking dual enrollment courses at Forsyth Tech by 68%.  

She also celebrated reductions in chronic absenteeism, the expansion of mental health resources available to students, and the introduction of an alternative to suspension program which led to 73% of participating students having no further discipline referrals upon returning to school.  

“We have built the foundation for educational equity and excellence, and I wish nothing but the best for the future of WS/FCS. Our students are capable of so much,” McManus said. “Please continue pouring into them every day and do not allow the many distractions to get in the way of doing what is right. No student should fall through the cracks.”   

The Process to Select an Interim Superintendent 

Dion Jenkins, WS/FCS Chief Legal Counsel, informed the board that they have options when selecting an interim superintendent. There is no specific licensure required to serve as interim superintendent. The only requirement is that board’s choice must be sent to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and they must be sworn in and take the oath of office. “Other than that, you have pretty wide latitude in who you select to be your interim superintendent,” said Jenkins while giving a presentation on the selection process. 

“You can decide to do an internal candidate. You can decide to do an external candidate; ultimately the board;s decision will be based on what role and function you would like for this person to play during the interim period.”  

To jump start the conversation, board members were asked what qualifications they would like to see in an interim superintendent. Board member Sabrina Coone said she would prefer someone who has had previous experience as a superintendent, who can come in and help fix problem areas.  

“I would love to see someone come in and kinda put their nose down and work on cleaning up some of our operational pieces. And I would love for them to have had experience in a place where maybe they needed a little help,” Coone said.  

Board member Trevonia Brown-Gaither also mentioned the importance of choosing someone who has experience. She also talked about the significance of choosing an interim who has worked with diverse populations.  

“… Experience, of course, and with a district that’s comparable or larger than ours. Also experience with issues such as financial deficits and diverse populations,” Brown-Gaither said. “Our student population is extremely diverse and I want to make sure we have somebody who understands that and understands our community at large. 

Board member Richard Watts said the focus for the interim superintendent should be getting the district ready for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.  

“I really want them to focus on all those things around opening schools, hiring, cleaning schools, schools need to be ready to go by August,” Watts continued. “If we get schools opened right with bus schedules and bus drivers and all those things, that’ll help us drastically move in the right direction for the new school year.” 

Board member Leah Crowley said Watts “hit it on the head” and the focus needs to be on opening schools in August. “That is going to be here before you know it; we are staring down May right now,” she said. “There’s a lot that has to happen, so to ask somebody to come in and fix things and understand other things is diverting their attention from what needs to happen for our students and staff, we have to be ready to go.”  

While the decision will be left up to the board who will be the interim superintendent, several parents and community members have made it clear that they want someone in the position who understands the needs of the community. “I think whoever is chosen should know this community and the students they will be serving,” said Janet Brown while picking her daughter up from school earlier this week. “These students need someone who understands their situations and where they’re coming from; I think that should be the focus.”  

What’s Next 

Now that talks are officially underway, district leaders hope to have an interim in place by June 1. Here are some  other important dates and meetings that are scheduled before that target date.  

May 13- Finalize terms of interim superintendent. (Closed Session) 

May 27- Final approval of interim superintendent contract. (Open Session) 

According to district staff, the larger search for the permanent superintendent could take six to eight months.  

It’s important to note that Tricia McManus’ last day with the district will be June 30. McManus has said that she will continue to work with the board and other district leaders through the transition period.