The Norfolk school board voted to fire Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong Wednesday night.
The board discussed their decision in a closed session and cast a 4-3 vote after coming out of the closed meeting. Members didn’t include a reason for the termination during the meeting.
Board members also voted to appoint Chief Academic Officer James Pohl as interim superintendent.
James Parker, president of the Norfolk Education Association said in a statement Byrdsong led the city's schools through some of the "most difficult years in public education history," including the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing shortages.
"Her tenure was marked by both progress and pain, and we recognize the deep impact her leadership has had on our schools, students, and educators," Parker wrote.
"As Dr. James Pohl steps into the role of Interim Superintendent, we urge him and the school board to prioritize collaboration, transparency, and the frontline voices of educators, students, and families," Parker continued. "Norfolk’s challenges—declining enrollment, persistent staffing shortages, and a controversial school closure plan—will not be solved behind closed doors."
School board member: Internal board disagreements preceded Byrdsong's termination
Byrdsong’s contract was up for reconsideration next year.
“It is with a heavy heart I share with you that I will no longer serve as the superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools,” Byrdsong wrote in a lengthy emailed statement after the vote. “I share this news with mixed emotions, as I feel somewhat regretful to be leaving an organization for which I have tremendous love; however, my prevailing emotion is gratitude. Over the past six years, it has been my distinct honor and privilege to lead Norfolk Public Schools.”
Before the vote, school board member Kenneth Paulson spoke out against the firing, saying other members took issue with communication from Byrdsong, which led to her termination.
“On the 22nd of May, Dr. Byrdsong sent the board a detailed memo outlining her concerns about the failing governance and the loss of trust. Instead of addressing the issues, the board majority moved around the issues and went directly to termination,” Paulson said. “The superintendent asked us to work collaboratively to realign our governance team. The answer: termination.”
Paulson claimed a majority contingent of the board made it a priority to terminate Byrdsong as part of ongoing disorganization within the board.
Alfreda Thomas and Adale Martin also voted against firing Byrdsong.
Following the vote, the crowd started chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, it’s the school board that must go.”
Byrdsong became superintendent in 2020 after 20 years in Norfolk Public Schools. She was a classroom teacher in Wake County, N.C. before that.
She started her local career as an assistant principal of Northside Middle School and held several positions at the district level before taking her role as superintendent.
In her letter about her termination, Byrdsong highlighted several of the accomplishments the district reached under her leadership like increased enrollment in district early education programs, adding more school psychologists and security positions, working on support services for students with disabilities and students whose first language isn’t English and increasing teacher salaries.
“So, let me address this inevitable question: “Considering such progress, why am I now poised to depart from my beloved Norfolk Public Schools?” Byrdsong wrote. “I will answer this question within the framework of my faith: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Quite simply, my faith tells me that there is a time when you know your season has concluded, when you know you have served your purpose. That time for me is now.”
Norfolk Public Schools is a member of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO's license.
