Rock Hill Schools superintendent Bill Cook resigns unexpectedly 1 week into school year
The leader of Rock Hill Schools has resigned one week into the new school year.
Bill Cook, the district’s superintendent since April 2018, is stepping down from his post effective immediately. The announcement was made at Monday’s Rock Hill Schools Board of Trustees meeting.
“Tonight, the Board of Trustees met in executive session and subsequently voted in open session to grant Dr. Cook’s request to be released from his employment contract with the district,” board chair Helena Miller said in the meeting, which was streamed live on the district’s website.
In a tearful farewell address to the board, Cook said Monday’s announcement comes with a “mix of emotions.”
“After careful and prayerful reflection, I have decided it is time for a transition for me personally and professionally,” Cook said.
John Jones, formerly the district’s Chief Academic and Accountability Officer, will serve as the district’s interim superintendent.
The new school year started Aug. 16.
Cook, who has served as an educator in North and South Carolina for over 30 years, joined Rock Hill Schools in January 2016. He started as the district’s executive director of secondary education before succeeding Kelly Pew as superintendent in 2018.
“I want to thank the board of trustees for the privilege I have had to lead this great school district,” Cook said on Monday. “The opportunity to serve within this school district for almost six years, with the last three years as superintendent, has been a highlight of my career. There are simply no adequate words to express my gratitude to the amazing district staff, school administrators, teachers and support staff as they support for our why: our students, family and community.”
Cook said he is proud of the obstacles the district has worked through during his tenure — citing specifically the “incredible challenges of the last 18 months.”
“We have transformed our work to meet our students’ and family’s needs in the midst of a global pandemic and crisis,” he said. “We have not let the pandemic deter us, and we have resiliently worked to address each of our goals and focus areas. I am extremely proud of the progress and accomplishments in each of these areas, especially in the areas of safety and employee retention.
“The theme of inspiring change has been set for our staff for the school year, and I believe the timing is right for this transition in leadership. The right people are in place to do the great work and make the progress in Rock Hill Schools.
“My sincere thanks to our families for entrusting us with your children,” Cook said. “I will always cherish my time advocating for the education of our 17,301 students.”
Cook’s annual salary was $205,110, according to a database compiled by The State newspaper.
After his remarks, Cook left the meeting, and Jones took over the remaining duties of the superintendent listed on the board’s agenda.
Bill Cook’s tenure at Rock Hill Schools
Cook began his teaching career in 1987, as a marketing teacher at Sun Valley High School just north of the Carolinas border. He taught for six years there before moving into administration — completing stints as an assistant principal or principal at five Union County (N.C.) Public Schools before becoming assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Gaston County Schools.
Cook entered the Rock Hill school district intent on bettering student and staff safety, teacher retention and student achievement, The Herald reported in the summer of 2018.
Over the course of his three years at his post, the district put in place several programs to meet those goals:
▪ Cook helped establish the district’s Department of Mental Health in 2020-21, one of the few stand-alone departments of its kind across the state. The department is run by Nancy Turner.
▪ Like neighboring districts in York County and across the country, Rock Hill Schools under Cook’s watch successfully launched its K-12 Virtual Academy, which provided online instruction to over 6,500 students during the pandemic over the the 2020-21 school year. It was one of 33 approved by the state board of education earlier this summer.
▪ Earlier this month, Cook announced the expansion of Rock Hill Schools’ pre-kindergarten services.
Not all of the actions taken by Cook and the board since 2018 have been popular.
In February, the board approved a plan that rezoned thousands of elementary school students, one that effectively closed three elementary schools. The decision, some Rock Hill leaders said at the time, was “insensitive” to the needs of parents and children.
And earlier this summer, South Pointe High School parents and recent alumni, as well as other community members, expressed confusion and outrage at the reassignment of former South Pointe principal Marty Conner.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
This story was originally published August 23, 2021 at 7:29 PM.
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