NCSD board unanimously chooses familiar face as next superintendent
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Nathanael Eure
Intern
Todd
Dr. Kristin Todd was named as the next superintendent for the North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) during a special meeting of the school’s Board of Trustees Tuesday afternoon.
Currently serving as NCSDs interim superintendent since Feb. 1, Todd will officially step into the position on July 1.
“I step into this role energized for the work ahead,” Todd signed in ASL. “I know the to-do list is long and the workload is extremely heavy, but I look forward to all of us working alongside each other with this incredible staff.”
The announcement was made during a Tuesday afternoon meeting held in Hoffmeyer cafeteria on the school grounds, where board members, staff, students, and community members gathered to celebrate the appointment.
Todd, who has served as NCSD’s interim school director since February, will begin her tenure as superintendent on July 1. Until then, the board unanimously voted to retain her as school director, granting her the full benefits, rights, and privileges of the superintendent role in the interim.
The meeting began with Board Chair Sandy Turner providing an overview of the selection process. The board opened applications in January and closed the window six weeks later, receiving seven qualified applications. From there, the pool was narrowed to four candidates, each of whom underwent thorough vetting by the board’s law firm, Campbell Shatley PLLC. Two finalists were ultimately invited for on-campus interviews and presentations last week.
Turner
Turner praised the community for their input during the process.
“You, as staff, community, parents, and stakeholders all submitted questions and feedback to this process,” Turner said. “[You] helped the board realize the traits and qualities they wanted in a school leader and were very open about how much [you] wanted Dr. Todd to become permanent.”
Board member Wallace Saunders, appearing via Zoom, paused between each word as he made the motion to name the superintendent: “I move that the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for the Deaf elect Dr. Kristin M. Todd to serve as superintendent beginning July 1, 2025.”
The motion was seconded by board member Jimmy Autrey and passed unanimously, prompting the cafeteria to erupt in cheers, clapping, and waves of visual applause, a cultural form of celebration in the Deaf community, performed by raising hands and shaking them in the air.
“Dr. Todd had shown tremendous connection with the staff since becoming interim director,” Turner said. “She is an excellent communicator with both the Deaf and hearing. Her 22 years of working at the school gave her a strong grasp of everything from the budget and HR to facilities — she could hit the ground running.”
Board member Micki White followed with a motion to appoint Todd as full-time school director until her official superintendent contract begins to align her employment benefits accordingly.
Fighting back tears, White said, “I motion that The Board of Trustees for the North Carolina School for the Deaf appoints Dr. Kristin Todd to serve as the full-time permanent director until the effective date of her election as superintendent. This action is effective immediately.”
After signing her contract, Todd took to the podium and began signing her remarks to the jubilant crowd of smiling faculty, friends, and family.
“We will treat each other with respect. We will provide for our students with unique needs, ensuring the optimal communication environment, and also provide a stellar education so that they may have the motivation and freedom to thrive.”
She continued, “My view of the superintendency is a position of service, it is a deep commitment to our students, to all of you, and to the deaf community. It is a promise that together we will dream big,” Todd said. “We will develop our skills and strengthen our bonds to one another. We will harness our opportunity to lift up our students and also to watch our school grow and thrive.”
Her remarks were met with more cheers and waves of visual applause. She was soon joined at the podium by her husband and two sons as attendees formed a line to offer congratulations. The celebration concluded with cake shared among community members, students, and staff.
Todd’s career spans more than two decades, including experience in deaf and special education. She has worked as a speech language pathologist, a middle school teacher for deaf students, and as a clinical supervisor for graduate students at Appalachian State University. She holds a doctorate from Western Carolina University in Educational Leadership, a master’s in communication disorders from Appalachian State University, and a degree in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education from Lenoir-Rhyne University.
“We’ve always wanted someone who is student-centered,” Turner said. “Someone who encourages staff to be involved with curriculum and extended programming, and who can work with our parents in a very positive manner.”
Jennifer Willet, an art teacher at NCSD who attended both finalist forums, said she was impressed by the entire process.
“I felt that both finalists had a lot to offer our school in terms of growth and development and did a good job of communicating how they planned to bring those things about.”
But for Willet, the board’s decision felt right. “I am supportive of Kristin Todd,” she said. “Her heart and priority is the students and their future success. She’s built strong relationships here. I’ve personally felt supported by her as interim director, and I’m very excited to see where she leads us next.”
Nathanael Eure is a staff writer with The Paper. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or nathanael@thepaper.media.
