Caswell County Board of Public Education Superintendents

Caswell County Board of Public Education Superintendents

Major George N. Thompson (July 1, 1885 or earlier)

William W. Taylor (December 3, 1888)

C. G. Lea (July 8, 1892)

J. R. Jones (July 1, 1894)

S. H. Williamson (April 1, 1895)

Archibald E. (Baldy) Henderson (July 1, 1897)

George A. Anderson (July 3, 1905)

R. A. Pope (July 1, 1921)

Robert W. Isley (July 2, 1923)

R. A. Sullivan (July 4, 1927)

Vance E. Swift (July 1, 1929)

Holland McSwain (March 1, 1935) 

Thomas H. Whitley (July 1, 1950)

Walker Willard Woodard (July 1, 1973)

Dr. Lawrence C. Walker 

Carl McGee

Floyd Melvin (Skip) Rowland, Jr. (     -2001)

Dr. Douglas Norman Barker (2001-2013)

Dr. Renee Franklin (2013-2013)

Dr. Michael Brock Womble (2014-2015)

Dr. Sandra Carter (January 2017 - June 2023)

Dr. Douglas Norman Barker (2023-2024)

JoAnna Gwynn (2024-)

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1. Major George Nicholas Thompson (1832-1891)

George Nicholas Thompson was born 18 March 1832. He received his license to practice law in 1855 after studying in Hillsborough, N.C., for two years. During the Civil War, Thompson was a major in the Home Guard. Thompson was married three times. In 1858, he married Bettie Johnston (1837-1880); they had five children: Luly, Mary, Roberta Lea, Samuel Nicholas, and Bessie Thompson. On 26 January 1876, he married Roberta Ann Neal; they had four children: Anabel Lea, James Neal, Sarah (Sallie) Lewis, and Ida Virginia.

On 5 December 1883, he married Ella Williams Graves, who had graduated with diplomas in liberal arts and music from Roanoke College in 1868 (now Averett College) in Danville, Va. They had three children: Azariah Graves, Ella Graves, and George Nicholas Thompson Jr. George Nicholas Thompson served as superintendent of schools of Caswell County; as a trustee of the University of North Carolina; and, in 1885, as a representative in the North Carolina legislature.

Source: Caswell County Historical Association Collection (1791-2000s), The Southern Historical Collection at the Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina).

Caswell County Genealogy
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2. William Woods Taylor (1817-1904)

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: W. W. Taylor
Age: 63
Birth Year: abt 1817
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1880: Milton, Caswell, North Carolina
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: S. B. Taylor
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members: Name Age
W. W. Taylor 63
S. B. Taylor 42
S. A. Taylor 20
F. M. Taylor 18
N. J. Taylor 16
W. B. Taylor 14
W. J. Taylor 11
M. B. Taylor 7

Caswell County Genealogy
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3. C. G. Lea may be Dr. Calvin Graves Lea (1834-1907)

Caswell County Genealogy
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4. J. R. Jones has not been identified. A person referred to as J. R. Jones was an early minister at the First Baptist Church of Yanceyville. And, a James R. Jones (born 1863) is a son of Richard H. Jones and Martha A. Blackwell. Richard H. Jones was one of Caswell's pioneer school teachers, and "Jones School House" and "Jones Community" were named after Richard H. Jones and his family. He also served the Confederacy in the Civil War.

However, that either of these is the J. R. Jones who served as Superintendent of Caswell County Public Schools has not been confirmed.

Caswell County Genealogy
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5. S. H. Williamson may be Reverend Samuel Hill Williamson (1859-1930)

Caswell County Genealogy
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6. Archibald Erskine (Baldy) Henderson (1843-1918)

Attorney-at-Law advertisement from The Caswell News (Yanceyville, NC), 9 December 1887.







Company B, 12th Regiment, Army of the Confederate States of America. Source: The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 629 ("Caswell County chapter #1152 United Daughters of the Confederacy").

In 1870 US Federal Census (Yanceyville Township, Caswell County, North Carolina) his occupation was "teaching school." He apparently was living alone (male, white, 27, born in North Carolina).

Caswell County Genealogy
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7. George Andrew Anderson (1869-1945)

George A. Anderson was born into a family that has lived in Caswell County for over 200 years. He was reared on the family plantation at Anderson in the southern part of Caswell County. Anderson Township was named for his grandfather, Quinton Anderson, a merchant, legislator, and businessman who built large agricultural holdings. George A. Anderson was Caswell County Superintendent of Schools for seventeen years, a newspaper editor, and Clerk of Superior Court for eight years. His published books include a history of Caswell County in World War I and biographies of Caswell statesmen Bartlett Yancey and Bedford Brown. Anderson School was named for him. His father was Dr. John Q. Anderson who practiced medicine in Caswell County for fifty years.

Caswell County Genealogy
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8. R. A. Pope has not been identified

9. Robert Walden Isley (1885-1981)

The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 20 December 1923

Dr. H. L. Gwynn and Alvis L. Florance, whose marriages are to take place this month, were honor guests at a dinner given at the Hotel Burton, Danville, last Wednesday evening. About 30 guests were present, including friends from Danville and Yanceyville. Messrs. Robt. W. Isley and W. F. Fitch, whose marriages take place soon, were also given seats of honor.

Some of the high schools at the time (and principal):

Anderson (R. W. Barnette)

Cobb Memorial (F. B. Harton)

Leasburg

Milton (J. E. Farrior, Jr.)

Pelham (W. J. Liles)

Prospect Hill (Mrs. B. M. Warren)

Semora (Agnes Whitt)

Yanceyville, Bartlett Yancey (S. H. Abell)

10. R. A. Sullivan has not been identified.

11. Vance Everette Swift (1898-1990)

12. Holland McSwain (1903-1988)

Superintendent of Caswell County Schools. His office in the Caswell County Courthouse was in the same room in which Senator John Stephens was killed in 1870. Source: The State, A Weekly survey of North Carolina (November 28, 1942) at 19. The McSwain family lived at the corner of South Main Street and what now is Atwater Street, across from the old Bartlett Yancey High School and beside the residence of Clyde Caviness Cole. This house later was occupied by the W. Emerson Phelps family.

13. Thomas Harrison Whitley (1910-1997)

14. Walker Willard Woodard (1924-2013)

Mr. Woodard dedicated many years of his life to education. He served as principal of schools in Scotland Neck, N.C. and Selma, N.C. He was principal of Ralph L. Fike   High School in Wilson, N.C. for many years and served as their assistant superintendent of schools. Mr. Woodard became Superintendent of Caswell County Schools in 1973 until his retirement. A highlight of his career in education was serving as an International Ambassador for the N.C. Department of Education where he traveled to China and extensively around the world.

15. Dr. Lawrence C. Walker (c.1936-2018)

Dr. Lawrence C. Walker, 82, of Yanceyville, NC passed away at his residence on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. A native of Alamance County, he was the husband of Mary DeViney Walker, who survives and the son of Hubert Walker and Curvey Holland Walker, both deceased. Dr. Walker was employed with Central Carolina Research Group as Executive Director. He was of the Presbyterian faith. He was an Alumni of UNC at Chapel Hill, Elon College, Duke University and UNC Greensboro. Dr. Walker was the Superintendent of the Caswell County School System. His career in public education extended over 33 years. Lawrence was a member of the Caswell Masonic Brotherhood Lodge #11.

16. Carl McGee has not been identified.

17. Floyd Melvin (Skip) Rowland, Jr.(1946-    )

18. Dr. Douglas Norman Barker (1951-    )

Caswell County school superintendents have included Douglas Barker, who retired on June 30, 2013. He became superintendent in 2001 replacing the retiring Skip Rowland. Barker had been a principal and an assistant superintendent in the Henderson County Public Schools.

Dr. Barker apparently served on at least two occasions as acting superintendent after he "retired" in 2013. This may have been after the resignations of Dr. Renee Franklin and Dr. Michael Brock Womble.

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Posted: Monday, December 31, 2012 6:00 am

The Caswell Messenger, Gerri Hunt, Editor

The Caswell County Board of Education is moving right along in their search for a new superintendent to replace Dr. Douglas Barker who will retire June 30 [2013]. The board has received applications, reviewed them and selected five or six, for interviews, which the board finished the afternoon of their last board meeting on Dec. 10. Barker told board members that he would be glad to help if they wanted his involvement, but so far they’ve done it on their own.

North Carolina, Birth and Death Indexes, 1800-2000

Name: Douglas Norman Barker

Gender: Male

Race: White

Event Type: birth

Birth Date: 19 Aug 1951

Birth County: Milton Township, Caswell County, North Carolina

Parent1 Name: Norman Gwynn Barker

Parent2 Name: Marty Agnes Collie Barker

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19. Dr. Renee Franklin

YANCEYVILLE -- The Caswell County Board of Education has selected Renee Franklin to become the next superintendent of Caswell County Schools effective July 1, 2013. The board made its selection during a meeting on Monday. Franklin, 53, has been an Edgecombe County Schools assistant superintendent for the past two years. She is a native of Dunn.

“I am obviously very excited about being selected as the next superintendent,” Franklin said.

Franklin said Tuesday that she plans to move to Caswell County sometime in June and will meet with current Caswell County Schools Superintendent Douglas Barker to discuss the transition process. Barker, 61, will retire as superintendent effective June 30. Barker has served as superintendent for the past 11 years.

“When I meet with him we will go over a strategic plan,” Franklin said. “His input is very valuable.”

Franklin has worked in education for 30 years. Before working with Edgecombe County Schools as assistant superintendent, she spent 11 years as an educator and administrator in Craven County Schools. Franklin said she decided to come to Caswell County Schools because of the system’s size and recent growth. Franklin and her husband, Bill, have two children, Meredith and Jake. Meredith is a teacher in Lenoir County Schools, while Jake will soon be attending Louisiana State University.

Barker said he is looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his family in Yanceyville.

“The school system here is overall in better shape,” Barker said. “I have enjoyed working here.”

Barker said he is proud of the work done to improve the school system’s technology programs and of the support provided in the classrooms to ensure students’ success.

Caswell County Board of Education chairwoman June Dailey said there were 19 applicants for the superintendent position. Franklin’s starting salary is $120,000, according to Dailey. Franklin signed a two-year contract to become the next superintendent.

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CASWELL COUNTY, N.C. — November 11, 2013

The Caswell County school board has voted to part ways with Superintendent Dr. Renee Franklin after only four months on the job. The school board voted Friday to buy out her contract and accept her resignation effective Nov. 15. Dr. Sammy Shields will be acting superintendent until a permanent replacement is selected.

"The Board and Dr. Franklin believe it is in each party's mutual interest to part ways amicably at this time, and that it is in the best interests of the school system to resolve this matter with a mutually acceptable separation agreement, rather than spending funds on a lengthy dispute."

Franklin was hired in February and had started July 1. She had been suspended with pay since early October, though officials have never said exactly why she was suspended.

One school board member told The Caswell Messenger it involves a "personnel matter."

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20. Dr. Michael Brock Womble

May 13, 2014 - The Caswell County Board of Education Monday night has appointed a new superintendent. Dr. Michael Brock Womble signed a four-year contract.

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May 13, 2014 - The Caswell County Board of Education Monday night has appointed a new superintendent. Dr. Michael “Brock” Womble signed a four-year contract.

The Caswell County, North Carolina, Board of Education announced Tuesday the appointment of Brock Womble as superintendent of Caswell County Schools, effective July 1, 2014.

According to a news release issued by the division, Womble has worked at three other school divisions in North Carolina and brings 12 years of superintendent experience to his new position. He is currently the superintendent of the Alexander County Schools in the western Piedmont of North Carolina.

“The board is confident that [Womble] will lead the Caswell County Schools to even higher achievement,” the news release stated.

Womble holds an educational doctorate, education specialist and Master of Education degrees from East Carolina University and a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University.

“I am very honored to be given this opportunity to serve the children, the parents, the teachers, the staff, and the community of the Caswell County School System,” Womble said in the release. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the community to increase the graduation rate and prepare all students to be college and/or career ready. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work and live in Caswell County.”

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21. Dr. Sandra Carter

Proudly serving as Superintendent of Caswell County Schools since January, 2017, Dr. Sandra Carter is an educational leader with 21 years of experience in public education.  She began her career in the Stanly County School District in 1996.  As a National Board Certified Teacher, she taught elementary education for ten years.  She was then promoted to Assistant Principal at West Stanly High School, Principal at New London Choice Middle School and Principal at North Stanly High School.   After serving as High School Principal, Dr. Carter moved to the District Level, serving as Executive Director of Human Resources, Student Services and Exceptional Children Programs and finally serving as Associate Superintendent overseeing the Departments of Curriculum & Instruction, Student Services, Testing and Accountability, Student Records, Human Resources and Exceptional Children.  She is now proud to serve as Superintendent of Caswell County Schools. 

Dr. Carter earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Pfeiffer University and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Wingate University.  In 2006, she earned a Specialist in Education Degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, followed by her Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007.   Her doctoral studies focused on Educational Leadership.

As a vested resident and taxpayer of Caswell County, Dr. Carter is looking forward to working collaboratively with our dedicated School Board members, staff, parents, community and especially the students to bring new opportunities to student learning.   She and her husband of 38 years, Anthony, have three adult children.

In a statement from Mel O. Battle, Chairman of the Board of Education, the Caswell County Board of Education, at a June 1, 2023, special called meeting, voted to end the contract with Dr. Sandra Carter as superintendent effective June 2, 2023.

Dr. Douglas Barker has been hired as the Interim Superintendent of Caswell County Schools effective June 5, 2023. "The Board looks forward to working with Dr. Barker as we continue to provide our students with a wonderful place to learn and to succeed," says Battle.

The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, NC), 8 June 2023.

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22. Dr. Douglas Norman Barker (2023-2024)

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23. JoAnna Gwynn (2024-

The Caswell County Board of Education has selected JoAnna Gwynn to become the next superintendent of Caswell County Schools effective July 1, 2024.  The board made its selection during a meeting on Monday, February 26, 2024.  Gwynn is a native of Caswell County and has worked for the school district for a total of 14 years.  She has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and most recently as the director of human resources.

The Board of Education would like to publicly thank Dr. Douglas N. Barker for returning as Interim Superintendent and his invaluable assistance as well as the knowledge he has shared while taking this position in June of 2023.  Dr. Barker will continue to serve in this role until the end of June and begin working with Gwynn to assist in the transition process.

Gwynn has shared that she is deeply committed to leveraging her extensive experience in education, leadership and passion for Caswell County Schools.  She shared that this is more than a position; it is a commitment, calling, a dedication to a cause for students, staff, parents, and the community at large.  It goes beyond daily work; it also includes strong communication skills, logic, and trust.

The Board of Education is excited to move forward with JoAnna Gwynn and congratulate her in this new role.

Source: The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, NC), 29 Feb 2024