Dr. Petruzielo Announces Retirement Date

The Cherokee County School Board has about five months to find another superintendent to lead the school district.

That’s because current Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo informed the board at its Thursday meeting that he will retire from public service to the Cherokee County School District on Feb. 1, 2016.

Petruzielo made his decision public in a rare statement at the end of the board’s business. He began his remarks by stating he’s currently serving in his 50th year as a public educator, and has spent the last 25 years as a superintendent.

Seventeen of those years have been with the Cherokee County School District.

The superintendent outlined the district’s achievement during his tenure, including rebounding as a district on the verge of losing its accreditation to one of the top performing systems in the state and nation.

“As much as I would like to take credit for all of the achievements and success enjoyed by this extraordinary school district since 1999 when the school board initially appointed me superintendent of schools, I cannot in good conscience do that,” he said. “The truth is: we have great students in this community; extremely involved and supportive parents and grandparents; amazing classroom teachers; outstanding senior staff, principals, assistant principals, counselors, media specialists and technologists...and some of the best administrative assistants, secretaries, bus drivers and maintenance workers with whom I have ever had the pleasure to serve.”

Petruzielo also said Cherokee County has been fortunate to have school board members committed to public education as well a “highly competent” school board attorney who’ve worked tirelessly on behalf of the students of the school system.

Petruzielo joined the Cherokee County School District in 1999 after leading Broward County, Fla., and Houston, Texas, school systems, two of the country’s largest school systems. He and wife, Sharon, a former special education teacher and supervisor, have two adult children and two grandchildren.

The superintendent has been a lightning rod in Cherokee County, and Petruzielo didn’t shy away from mentioning that.

Referring to those who may consider him “abrasive,” the superintendent said there are “likely some policy makers, individuals and interest groups in our community, in the state...and elsewhere who have not always appreciated my leadership and outspoken advocacy for public education.”

“In my experience, if you tell the truth, you’re abrasive; but if you lie or bend the truth, you’re charming,” he continued. “Accordingly, since none of my degrees are from charm school, I have been personally and professionally committed to telling the truth...even when some state lawmakers, local elected officials and other influential individuals and group haven’t appreciated it.”

Petruzielo concluded his remarks by saying he’s most proud of Cherokee County students mastering international standards; “outstanding” results from the district’s investment in technology; “extraordinary” infrastructure rolled out to address student population growth; efforts to retain and attract teachers, administrators and support staff; the district’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and Fine Arts academies and Career Pathways initiatives; and the Cherokee County Educational Foundation.

“It is widely believed that a primary litmus test for leadership success is determining if a leader leaves an organization fundamentally better than he or she found it,” he said. “In that regard, what has occurred over the last 17 years of my Cherokee County public schools leadership speaks for itself.”

These successes, he added, are not viewed as an end, but as the beginning of ”a foundation of what must come next in the school district’s continuing efforts to provide Cherokee County’s children and grandchildren with a world-class public education.”

Petruzielo’s comments were met with a standing ovation from the audience, which included educators, administrators, residents, students and district staff members.

Board Chair Kyla Cromer commended the superintendent for his service, adding his leadership has been “unparalleled.”

“We would not be where we are right now without your leadership,” she added.

Board member Patsy Jordan, who is in her first term serving northern Cherokee County, said her 10-year career as an educator and subsequent service on the school board have been ”one of the absolutely greatest experiences of my life.”

Jordan, who began to choke up during her comments, said Petruzielo’s decision to come to the school district propelled her to stay and subsequently retire as teacher.

“It has been an awesome experience,” she said, adding she couldn’t thank him enough for his service.

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Photo credit: Cherokee County School District