Baldwin County Superintendent Dr. Noris Price announced her retirement Aug. 13 during the monthly board of education meeting. This will be her last year serving the Baldwin County School District, but Price stated she will continue to be involved in education as a whole.
Price became the Baldwin County School District superintendent July 1, 2014. Counting her 10 years as superintendent, she has worked in education for 40 years in various positions from elementary school teacher to principal to president of the Georgia School Superintendents Association. She was the 2022 Georgia Superintendent of the Year and a finalist for the 2022 National Superintendent of the Year. Her list of achievements is long, but even larger is her passion for education.
“When I think of my career, there are many memorable moments,” said Price. “One of the first that comes to mind is from 2016 when the state required districts to choose a governance model and the board chose the charter system. Taking the Baldwin County School District through that process is something I’m very proud of and I was able to get it renewed. As a result of that, we have been able to have flexibility from state rules and laws and implement innovative programming in order to meet the needs of our students.”
Price also noted that raising the graduation rate from 66% to 89% is another notable memory of her career within the district. This is in addition to the innovative programs she referred to, including introducing Montessori programming to the district, developing a College and Career Academy, the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Program, and much more.
“From the first day of being a third-grade teacher to being a superintendent, it’s been about making a difference in the lives of children to ensure they have a brighter future,” said Price. “I may not know what impact I’ve made but I know I’ve touched a lot of lives after 40 years.” Through her career, Price has impacted countless lives and the “educational journey” of many. Reflecting on the state of the district and her own life, she stated that she knew it was time to retire.
“My husband retired several years ago and has been wanting to travel and spend more time together as a family,” said Price. “I feel that I’m leaving at the right time. We got through the pandemic and got through those difficult times. We are moving in the right direction so it’s time to let the next superintendent build upon what we have and take the school district to the next level.”
She stated that the district has returned to a sense of normalcy, the leaders of the district have been recognized multiple times for their skills, and Baldwin County has been recognized on the state and national level. Based on these factors, the next superintendent will have a proper foundation to support them and build the next framework on.
“I think I have done a good job building the capacity in the district so it can be a smooth transition,” said Price. “Another reason why I announced my retirement early was to allow the board time to thoroughly search for the next superintendent.
It will also provide some overlap in the transition so I may work with the new superintendent and assist that transition.”
Price praised the “incredible” team, “dedicated and committed” employees, and “amazing” students that make up the Baldwin County School District. She advises the next superintendent to get to know everyone and work together to build upon the community established.
“Take what is already here and build upon it.
Continue to improve.
Develop a plan with everyone and our stakeholders to move the district forward,” said Price.
Price plans to “stepback” to allow the next superintendent to “put their own personal touch” on the district. However, she plans to stay involved in the community and within education through the many organizations that she is a part of.
“I love this community,” said Price. “I appreciate the hard work of our employees and the support of this community. It’s been an incredible experience to lead and I’m proud to have been the superintendent of the Baldwin County School District.”