Superintendent Search

 

 

IWCS Names New Superintendent

Dr. Theo Cramer will become the division’s leader beginning August 22

 

The School Board of Isle of Wight County approved Dr. Theo Cramer as the new Superintendent for the division during their special called meeting on August 18, 2022.

As a public educator in the state of Maryland for 30 years, Dr. Theo L. Cramer has worked in many distinct roles in the field of education. He has served as a teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, and most recently he served as a community superintendent in the Howard County Public School System.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Cramer to Isle of Wight County Schools,” said school board chair Denise Tynes. “The board was impressed with the tremendous amount of experience Dr. Cramer brings to the Superintendent position.  He will be able to provide the leadership we need to continue successfully serving the students, parents, and employees of Isle of Wight County Schools.”

“I am extremely honored to be selected by the board as division Superintendent,” said Cramer. “I am passionate about public education and look forward to working with the people of this great community.”

Cramer has worked at both the middle and high school levels as a teacher. As a teacher, he taught both special education and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. He has held the positions of high school assistant principal and principal at Laurel High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. At the central office level, he served as a director and executive director of several different departments—Academic Support, Student Services, College and Career Readiness, Career Technical Education, Human Resources, and School Management and Instructional Leadership.

 Cramer has worked in three school systems during his 30-year career-- the Prince George’s County Public School System, the St. Mary’s County Public School System, and the Howard County Public School System. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from South Carolina State University in Political Science/Pre-Law. He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Administration and Supervision from Bowie State University, and received his Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Cramer has always been an active member in the community and has served on numerous boards and committees as both a member and an officer. The boards and committees include the United Way, the Human Relations Commission, the Literacy Council, Alternatives for Families and Youth, the Principals’ Association, the Human Services Council, the Task Force on the Elimination of the Achievement Gap, the Building Trades Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) Mid-Career Advisory Council, and the University of Pennsylvania’s GSE Alumni Council.

 

Cramer has also worked as an adjunct faculty member at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s County, Maryland and at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Theo and his wife, Gaylen, who is also an educator, are the proud parents of two daughters, Gabrielle and Charlize, who are both in college. The family currently resides in Laurel, Maryland.

 

Isle of Wight County School Board Announces Superintendent Search

The Isle of Wight County School Board announced April 5, 2022 that it will begin the process of hiring a new superintendent by seeking public input on qualifications. The school board created a survey related to superintendent criteria, which was available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IsleofWightSuperintendentSearch, and on the home page of the division web site.  Hard copies of the survey were also be available at the school board administration offices and at each school. (The survey closed on April 19, 2022; results are shared below.) In addition to the survey, the board held two public hearings:  Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 6:00pm at Westside Elementary School, 800 W. Main St., Smithfield, VA 23430, and Monday, April 25, 2022 at 6:00pm at Georgie Tyler Middle School, 23320 North Court St., Windsor, VA 23487.

“Hiring a new superintendent is an important task for the school board and we encourage the public to participate in the process of determining qualifications for our next superintendent,” said School Board Chair Tynes.  “We hope all community members will take time to fill out the online survey or attend one of the public hearings.”

The school board selected the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) to assist the board with the superintendent search.

 

Special Called Board Meeting, April 5, 2022:  Meeting with VSBA to Discuss Superintendent Search 

Public Hearing, April 19, 2022:  Superintendent Search

Public Hearing, April 25, 2022:  Superintendent Search

Special Called Board Meeting, April 26, 2022:  Board Meets to Establish Superintendent Qualifications

 

Of 28 inquiries, there were 18 full applications.