Smyrna district's Debbie Wicks retiring after 40 years
Smyrna Superintendent Debbie Wicks will retire June 30 after serving the district for four full decades.
Wicks announced her retirement in December and has said she will continue to live in Smyrna, of which she is a lifelong resident.
She will step away from one of the fastest growing school districts in the state. Smyrna School District serves 5,233 students, has eight schools and 712 employees, according to the district. Enrollment has grown almost 25 percent over the past 10 years and continues to trend upward.
The school board plans on advertising for a new superintendent after its Feb. 15 organizational meeting. It will be the first time the district has had to hire a superintendent in almost two decades, according to a statement.
Wicks has served in that position for 19 years. Before that, she served as a special education teacher and associate principal.
She joined the district in 1967, after graduating from the University of Delaware.
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Fostering teamwork has been an important part of Wicks’ success, according to a district statement. She has overseen school remodeling and construction projects, working with district staff to provide a secure environment for students, and in 2014, oversaw a large capital referendum.
Wicks was also involved in the restoration of John Bassett Moore Intermediate School and the School Special Services building. In 2015, she was presented the Community Friend Award by the Twentieth Century Club of Smyrna, and in 2016, she was presented the Star of Smyrna by the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association, a nonprofit organization that encourages the beautification and preservation of Smyrna's Historic District.
"Working with a wonderful community, a great staff and caring students, and an excellent school board has made the 40-year journey seem short," Wicks said in a statement, adding that after her retirement, she plans on researching her family's history and traveling with family and friends.
Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.