Stephens County School Superintendent Whiten Retiring

Stephens County School Superintendent Sherrie Whiten is retiring.

Whiten announced at Tuesday’s Stephens County Board of Education meeting that she plans to retire effective March 31, 2014.

Whiten said it has been an honor to serve as the Superintendent of the Stephens County School System.

But, she said it is time to pass the leadership torch.

“I have done this for a long time,” said Whiten.  “I have been with the school system around 33 years and I am really proud of all of our accomplishments.  I have just decided that right now, this is the best choice for me.”

Whiten became Interim Superintendent at the end of 2008 after the departure of Gary Steppe and was named Superintendent by the Board of Education in March 2009.

Whiten started her career in education as a teacher at Big A Elementary School.  She then moved to Stephens County Middle School, where she was a teacher and later an assistant principal.  After that, she became principal at Toccoa Elementary School before moving to Central Office Administration as an assistant superintendent.

Whiten said she has been blessed with an extremely rewarding career with a lot of good experiences in Stephens County.

“I have been blessed beyond measure with the school system,” said Whiten.  “You just hit a point where you decide where you want to look at something else and slow down a little bit and that is my goal.”

As for what is next, Whiten said she does not have any set plans.  However, she says she will not totally leave the education arena.

Whiten said she feels leaving at the end of March is a good time for the school system to get someone new into the position.

Stephens County Board of Education Chair Dr. Elizabeth Pinkerton said the board regrets the fact that Whiten is leaving, but wishes her well.

“We have all loved Sherrie and feel like she has done an incredibly excellent job in helping us get to the point we are at,” said Dr. Pinkerton.  “We feel like we are successful because Sherrie has worked so hard to get us there.”

Dr. Pinkerton said Whiten worked well together with others in the school system.

Dr. Pinkerton said the board will begin the search soon and the goal is to have someone in place by April 1st.