Page Prepares to Call It a Career

As he prepares to retire as Henderson County Schools superintendent, Dr. Stephen Page looked back on his tenure as the schools' leader, calling it the best years of his career.

 

Page, who was hired six years ago to be Henderson County's superintendent, announced recently he will step down June 30. After 40 years in education, he said Friday he is looking forward to the life of a retiree and plans to spend more time perfecting his woodworking and golfing skills. He also will continue his involvement in the Boy Scouts' Daniel Boone Council.

 

Page's retirement is still four months away and he will remain on the job he loves for four more months. He recalled he was toying with retirement when the Henderson County position caught his eye.

 

"I was really thinking about retiring, and this job became available. I was asked if I would come over and at least talk with the board," he said. "I came over and liked what I heard. As I look in hindsight now, it's turned out to be probably the best thing that ever happened to me personally and professionally. It will be six years in June, and it will truly have been the best part of my career."

 

Page came to Henderson County from Buncombe County where he was a high school principal before spending 14 years as an associate superintendent. He called his work in Henderson County fulfilling and said the people he works with at the central office and throughout the schools are the reason for that.

 

Asked what he will miss about being superintendent, Page replied, "No question, just the relationships that I have. I love the people in this building."

 

As superintendent, Page oversees a school system that educates 13,400 children and has a budget of $100 million, most of which is state money. Looking back on his six years, Page said there are several initiatives the school system has tackled under his watch. One of those is bringing down the dropout rate. Page said he made it a priority to require school principals to know potential dropouts personally and to intervene before they left school. Page takes dropout prevention so personally that in his office are poster boards that contain the pictures of children who have left school.

 

Page said the school system had 132 dropouts last year. Five years ago, the number was 222.

 

"We've dramatically lowered the dropout rate, and that's been through everybody's effort by focusing on kids and trying to identify kids who walk out of the building and seeing them as real people and not seeing them as a number," he said. "We've grown in size, but our dropouts have dropped, and our graduation rate has improved. Each school deserves the credit for it."

 

Page was quick to point out that more work needs to be done to reduce the dropout total even further. "If your child's one of the 132 that became a dropout, it's a disaster," he said.

 

Page said he has also been pleased with the school system's capital improvements in recent years. There are new Sugarloaf, Mills River and Hillandale elementary schools along with a complete renovation of Dana Elementary. Page said he is optimistic the school system will soon move forward, pending approval by county commissioners, on an addition between North Henderson High and Apple Valley Middle schools. The top floor of the addition, Page said, could serve as a freshman academy for the high school, while the bottom floor may house eighth-grade classes.

 

Page predicts the biggest challenge the new superintendent will face is the same one he has dealt with: the budget. Page will be responsible for the new budget in May, but the following budget year will not have federal stimulus money to replace funds taken by the state.

 

"I think they will rise to the situation, but it may mean making some really tough decisions that they haven't had to make so far," he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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