In July, a familiar face to the area will return – this time at the helm of the Carroll County School District.
Thursday, during an executive session the board voted to hire Joey Carpenter as the new superintendent. Carpenter will replace Jim Ray. Ray was hired in 2019 and took over the helm during the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
Carpenter isn’t new to the district, and he isn’t a stranger to Carroll County. He served as a principal at J.Z. George High School before moving to the Oxford School District, where he works as the director of the Oxford-Lafayette School of Applied Technology.
“I consider it a true privilege to have been appointed the Superintendent of the Carroll County School District. I grew up in Carrollton, the son of Doyle and Betty Sue Carpenter. My wife Jill and I have four children and have lived here most of our married life. We consider Carrollton our home, and I am honored to begin this new journey here. I have been an educator for 20 years with 15 of those being spent as an administrator at all levels,” Carpenter said. “It is my desire to meet the needs of Carroll County's students by providing a learning environment that is conducive to allowing them to reach their full potential. The future sits in our classrooms every day, and it is our job to help them flourish and reach their unlimited abilities. Caring, concern, and consideration for all stakeholders encompass my philosophy of education.”
He said he wants to do this by working with the school board to develop a vision for the district.
”The community, administrators, teachers, parents, and students of the Carroll County School District will be involved as we work with the school board to develop a vision and set goals for the District that will include:
1. Ensuring strong public relations to promote unity across the district including both the elementary and high schools as well as central office.
2. Raising the achievement level of all students in the district by continually improving our Accountability Level using data driven research to ensure success.
3. Continue with sound financial practices and budget preparation that will enable the district to continue to provide a fiscally sound educational system.
4. Communicating with the administration and faculties to allow a voice from all areas of the district to feel a part of the overall vision and mission of the district.
5. Continue to recruit highly qualified teachers to maintain and exceed the level of achievement the district has now,” Carpenter said. “It is my intent to foster and cultivate community involvement to ensure the continued success of our students, schools, and community. I look forward to meeting with our administration and teachers as we work together to ensure that current and future students in our district develop their intellectual abilities to their fullest. While serving as superintendent, I plan to be accessible to all stakeholders and maintain an open door communication policy. I encourage and welcome any questions, comments, or concerns.”
Ray announced earlier this year in February that he would be leaving the district. He told board members, administration, teachers and parents in attendance that he wanted the best for the students in the Carroll County School District.
Carpenter’s contract is a two-year contract that will begin on July 1.
