EDENTON — The superintendent of Edenton-Chowan Schools is leaving the school district to take a job as a high school principal in the Pender County Schools, the school board chairman says.
According to Gene Jordan, Dr. Michael Sasscer has taken a job as principal at Topsail High School. The school is located in the unincorporated community of Hampstead, according to online sources.
Sasscer, who had been superintendent in Edenton-Chowan for the past four years, submitted this resignation to the Board of Education Tuesday evening. He said he plans to leave the school district on June 21.
Jordan said Sasscer's separation from the district is an amicable one, and not something the board had demanded.
"We are sad to see him go," Jordan said.
He referred any further questions to Sasscer, who couldn't be reached on Wednesday.
In a press release announcing Sasscer's resignation Tuesday night, the departing superintendent said it had "been an honor to serve in a community that is passionate about education.”
“I am thankful for the joy our students, families and staff brought me everyday,” Sasscer said.
According to the release, the Edenton-Chowan Schools during Sasscer’s tenure “navigated" the pandemic, began construction on the new John A. Holmes High School project, expanded workforce development programs, and restructured its elementary schools "to enhance continuity" for pre-K students.
The district also was deemed “low performing” by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction last fall because of students’ low scores on state testing. District officials have been working ever since on a number of strategies to remove the low-performing label.
In the district's press release, Jordan thanked Sasscer for his "leadership and tireless effort" during both the pandemic and during the work to start construction of the new high school.
Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation Director Joy Harvill also credited Sasscer with initiatives and leadership she said will be missed.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Dr. Michael Sasscer," she said. "His guidance has been instrumental in restructuring and strengthening the Educational Foundation. We appreciate his positive, energetic leadership and wish him nothing but the best."
According to the school's Wikipedia page, Topsail High School's current principal is Dr. Larry Obeda, who succeeded the school's former principal, Christopher Madden. The school has approximately 1,400 students.
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