Kevin Carson named Cape superintendent

The Cape Henlopen school board unanimously voted to name Kevin E. Carson district superintendent.  His contract starts June 27.

Carson, currently superintendent of Woodbridge School District, said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the district.

"The potential that exists in this district is phenomenal," Carson said.  "Great work has been done and continues to be done."

Board members said Carson was the clear choice when the board interviewed five candidates for the position March 30.

School board President Spencer Brittingham said it's never easy to choose a leader for a district with 5,000 students.  "I believe we have found someone who can address the needs of the majority of our students.  He is a firm and focused person who can take this district in the direction we want to go," he said.

Board Vice President Sara Wilkinson said Carson has a good perspective on the district's needs and where the board wants to go.  She said he joins Cape with a strong understanding of educational initiatives already in place and of Race to the Top.

Board member Roni Posner, who headed the superintendent search committee, said the search was done with clear direction from the community.  "The community said two things to us – academic achievement and communication," she said.

Posner said Superintendent David Robinson, who joined Cape last summer on a one-year contract, has been a phenomenal leader.  "We wouldn't have been able to come together as easily as we did without a year of Dave's leadership," she said.

She said the 2010-11 school year has been a turnaround year for the district under Robinson's leadership.  "I have absolutely no worry that we are not going to maintain this momentum," Posner said.

Carson currently resides in Bridgeville.  He plans to move to the Cape district.

Read more in the Friday, April 8 edition.