Killingsworth retires from Bladen County school system

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — What was supposed to be an ordinary Bladen County monthly Board of Education meeting quickly took an extraordinary turn. Superintendent Greg Killingsworth unexpectedly announced his retirement from Bladen County schools Monday night.

A hand-written letter on a plain piece of paper was the only notification from former Superintendent Greg Killingsworth notifying the Bladen County School Board about his intentions of leaving his position.

Bladen County Public Relations Director Valerie Newton said a hand-written letter is not the typical format for a letter of retirement.

Killingsworth’s decision to leave his position with the school system came as a surprise to many as he had not even reached his two year mark with the county school system.

“It definitely was a shock to everyone,” said Newton. “We were not expecting it.”

WWAY tried to speak with Bladen County Board of Education Chairman Berry Lewis about the abruptness of Killingsworth’s decision but he refused to comment.

Newton said Monday’s Board of Education meeting started out like any other monthly meeting but it was when the board went into a closed session when Newton said Killingsworth handed over his letter.

Some were not surprised by his decision. West Bladen High School Principal Todd Finn said, “Mr. Killingsworth served in public schools for 36 years and he has every right in the world to step down when he wants to.”

Newton says when a superintendent, assistant superintendent or even a teacher steps down employees generally type their intentions on county or school letterhead. However, Killingsworth did not.

Some faculty say they will continue to uphold their standard of excellence without Killingsworth.

“The only thing that changes is who I answer to,” said Finn. “The great things that we are doing here in Bladen County, specifically West Bladen High School, do not change.”

Faculty and staff will now answer to Bladen County Assistant Superintendent Roland McKoy who will head up the school system and act as superintendent until further notice.