On Friday, the Wayne County Board of Education selected Dr. Michael Dunsmore as the new superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools. Dr. Dunsmore, who has served as the Superintendent of Tyrrell County Schools since 2009, will be officially sworn on July 1st.
Dunsmore was selected following a six month search process.
“It was the goal of our Board to bring Wayne County the very best superintendent for our district,” said Board Chair Don Christopher West. “I appreciate all of the Board members for their willingness to meet more than usual throughout this process. As a result, we were able to narrow the search from thirty candidates to the candidate selected today. We look forward to July 1 when Dr. Dunsmore can officially take the helm and will work with him to continue moving our students, staff and county in a forward direction.”
Dr. Dunsmore said after his hiring, “I am honored to be selected as the Superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools. I know there is a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. This school district has a proud and rich history of student success. I want to build upon that foundation and will work to make Wayne County Public Schools a district everyone can be proud of.”
Dr. Dunsmore graduated from Mansfield State College in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. After serving as an Extensive Juvenile Probation Officer for five years, Dr. Dunsmore transitioned from the justice system to the education system. In 1997, Dr. Dunsmore earned a master’s degree in Counseling from Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The following year he became an Emotional Support/Life Skills Teacher at an intermediate school in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. In 2003, Dr. Dunsmore earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Shippensburg University. The following year, he was named Director of Special Education at Mount Union Area School District. In 2006, he became the Supervisor of Special Education at Palmrya Area School District. In 2008, Dr. Dunsmore earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The following year, he left Pennsylvania and moved to North Carolina to become the Superintendent of Tyrell County Schools.
In 2013, Dr. Dunsmore was named the North Carolina Northeast Region Superintendent of the Year.
Dr. Dunsmore will replace Dr. Sandra R. McCullen, who has been serving as WCPS Interim Superintendent since December 1, 2014. Dr. McCullen, the former WCPS Associate Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, has temporarily filled the vacancy left open by Dr. Steven D. Taylor who retired November 30, 2014 following a 34-year career in education. Dr. McCullen’s last day will be June 30. She will then officially retire after 43 years of service to the district.
