Don Phipps has been tapped to lead North Carolina’s Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system.

Phipps, formerly superintendent of the Caldwell County schools in North Carolina, had won the endorsement of the North Carolina state board of education, which assisted the Winston-Salem school board in its search for a new leader.

School board chair Deanna Kaplan commented in a district press release that Phipps’ “clear, steady leadership will be vital as we continue our work to restore fiscal health and strengthen public trust.” The release noted that Phipps had “built a reputation for navigating complex budget environments” and raising student achievement.

In 2023, Phipps was tapped as the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County district enrolls more than 50,000 students, about five times more than Caldwell County in western North Carolina.

In Florida, Mike Burke, superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District for four years, has won top scores in his annual evaluation, according to the district. Palm Beach, the 10^th largest school district in the nation, enrolls about 190,000 students and 23,000 employees.

"Under the superintendent's direction, the district has successfully maintained its distinguished 'A' rating, reflecting consistent excellence in academic standards and student outcomes," said board chair Karen Brill in a statement. "Notably, graduation rates have increased across almost all student subgroups, with two subgroups remaining the same."

Interim Leaders Named in Des Moines and St. Louis

In Des Moines, Matt Smith, associate superintendent since 2018, has been named interim superintendent for a two-year term on a vote of the school board. The district enrolls about 31,000 students.

“Matt not only brings stability but also the energy and enthusiasm we want at the helm of Des Moines Public Schools, including being a true leader on our Reimagining Education initiative,” board chair Jackie Norris said in a statement.

St. Louis Public Schools named Myra Berry, the district’s interim chief of human resources, as interim superintendent, succeeding Millicent Borishade.

Berry began her career in the district more than 20 years as a special education teacher and has served in multiple roles, including principal and director of performance management.  In 2023, she was named interim chief of human resources.