With the selection of Mr. Payne, the SVSU Board of Directors concluded the Superintendent Search, which began following Superintendent James R. Culkeen’s retirement announcement in late October of 2024.
In making their final decision, the Board took into consideration the feedback of the community, who were heavily engaged in the search process. Feedback from staff, students, families, and community members suggested that a candidate who was community-focused and student-centered would be important for whoever was selected as the next Superintendent; Mr. Payne aligns with those wishes, bringing over 25 years of experience in education and a commitment to serve this community. Mr. Payne currently serves as the principal of Mt. Anthony Union High School.
“The Board recognizes Tim’s passion for the students in our schools and his desire to strengthen the schools within the SVSU.” said Nicol Whalen, SVSU Board Vice Chair. “We believe this focus will serve our schools and community well as we navigate through the upcoming changes for public education in Vermont.”
The Board would like to thank the Vermont School Board Association for their support during this process, consultant Tracy Wrend for her guidance, the Superintendent Search Committee for their hard work, and the larger community for being so engaged throughout the search.
“An important element in this entire process, one which should not be overlooked, is the engagement we had from constituents in the varied communities within this Supervisory Union throughout this process,” said Scott McEnaney, SVSU Board Chair. “We can all feel very proud of how our community stepped up to play an important role in this process.”
Mr. Payne will officially assume the Superintendent role on July 1, 2025 and the SVSU Board and Administrative team are committed to providing their full support as he makes this transition. With this appointment, the SVSU is positioned to truly Imagine the Possibilities for our school communities.