Former Wake educator to lead Orange County Schools as superintendent suddenly departs

Update: “Here’s how much severance pay, other cash Orange County school superintendent will get”

Superintendent Monique Felder will leave the Orange County Schools after nearly four years next week, she announced Friday.

In a letter posted to the school system’s website, Felder said her last day leading the 7,000-student system will be Wednesday, August 2.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share, based on conversations I have had with the Orange County Board of Education, that I will no longer serve as your superintendent,” she wrote.

Felder did not explain her departure. Her contract does not run out until June 30, 2025, after being extended at least twice since her 2019 hire. The school board chose not to extend it further earlier this year, Indy Week reported.

School board Chair Anne Purcell would not say why Felder is leaving.

“As you know I cannot comment on the specifics of confidential personnel matters,” she wrote in an email to The News & Observer. “Please know that the Board gave this matter very careful consideration and reached an agreement with Dr. Felder and that agreement was approved on July 28. The vote was unanimous with all seven board members voting.”

The district announced late Friday that veteran educator Jim Merrill will be interim superintendent for up to six months, beginning Aug. 3.

In her letter, Felder cited several achievements including:

▪ “The district’s equity plan has positively impacted every OCS student,” she wrote. “For example, through the district’s equity work, it was realized that many students (both students of color and white students) who should have been in advanced classes were not. ... To date, the number of students of color enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses increased by almost 50% in two years.”

▪ “OCS’ students are learning, and learning fast,” Felder wrote. “Every year, North Carolina’s education leaders share expectations with us for how much students should learn over time. Last year, more than 83% of our schools exceeded these goals on End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) tests. That’s better than any other North Carolina school district.”

▪ “This year’s preliminary EOG and EOC data shows that student growth has continued to accelerate for students across OCS toward grade-level proficiency, and far fewer OCS students are at risk of not reading on grade level, building on last year’s rapid growth,” she wrote.

Ex Wake superintendent and state superintendent of year to lead Orange school district

Merrill, who lives in Mebane, served as a superintendent for over 17 years with several school districts, including Wake County Public Schools, Alamance-Burlington Schools and the Virginia Beach City Schools in Virginia, district officials said in a news release.

He was previously named State Superintendent of the Year in North Carolina and Virginia, and was a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year.

“I count it an honor to be asked to join Orange County Schools in opening the 2023-2024 school year,” Merrill said in the release. “Orange County’s commitment to academic progress for all students is well known in North Carolina. I look forward to collaborating with teachers, support staff, school and district leadership, parents, and community advocates as we help our young people learn and grow.”

‘A setback,’ says state senator

State Sen. Graig Meyer, an Orange County Democrat and school district parent, said Felder has been “a strong advocate for the students who struggle the most in school, which is surely part of why she was forced out.”

“I was a co-chair of the first task force that Orange County Schools ever had to address racial achievement disparities,” he wrote in a statement. “In the 16 years since then, our school district has had many ups and downs in its efforts to ensure that Black and Latino children perform on par with white children. Today’s news is surely a setback in that effort.”

An attorney for the school system, responding to Indy Week’s initial report on Felder’s announcement, said the school board did not “oust” Felder and, with her consent. could extend her contract at any time between now and then..

“[A]ny action to extend, renew, or end a superintendent’s contract would occur in open session [at] a duly called public meeting of the Orange County Board of Education,” Neal Ramee wrote. “Without revealing confidential personnel information, I can confirm that neither of these things has occurred within the past few months.”

The News & Observer also left a phone message with the district’s communications officer for more information, including a copy of the superintendent’s contract.

This story was originally published July 28, 2023 at 3:15 PM.