Prayer vigil planned for Superintendent Stewart
From staff reports Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A local ministerial group will hold a prayer vigil for Tony Stewart on Thursday for area residents unable to attend the late school superintendent’s funeral in Roxboro.
The Pasquotank Ministers Council for Education will host the vigil at Corinth Baptist Church at 1035 U.S. Highway 17 South Thursday at 2 p.m. The event will take place at the same time as Stewart’s funeral service in Virginia, said Margaret Twiford, the council’s secretary.
Personnel of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools who wish to attend have been given permission by school administrators to do so, Twiford said. The vigil will also be open to the public.

Stewart, who had been superintendent of the EC-Pasquotank schools since 2000, died at his family’s home in Culpeper, Va., over the weekend. He had been diagnosed with double pneumonia in December.

Visitation for Stewart will be held at Moser Funeral Home, 223 Broadview Ave., Warrenton, Va., today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation will also be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 2663 High Plains Road, Roxboro, Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m.
According to the funeral home, Stewart’s family has requested no flowers and have indicated that memorial donations to the charity of one’s choice are appreciated. Moser Funeral Home, 233 Broadview Ave., Warrenton, VA 20186, is in charge of arrangements. The phone number is 1-540-347-3431.

Prayer vigil planned for Stewart

From staff reports

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A local ministerial group will hold a prayer vigil for Tony Stewart on Thursday for area residents unable to attend the late school superintendent’s funeral in Virginia.

The Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Ministers Council will host the vigil at Corinth Baptist Church at 1035 U.S. Highway 17 South Thursday at 2 p.m. The event will take place at the same time as Stewart’s funeral service in Virginia, said Margaret Twiford, the council’s secretary.

Personnel of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools who wish to attend have been given permission by school administrators to do so, Twiford said. The vigil will also be open to the public.

Stewart, who had been superintendent of the EC-Pasquotank schools since 2000, died at his family’s home in Culpeper, Va., over the weekend. He had been diagnosed with double pneumonia in December.

At Monday night's Pasquotank County commissioners' meeting, the commissioners and audience held a moment of silence in memory of Stewart.

Funeral arrangements for Stewart aren’t yet available.

Dr. Tony Stewart passes away

EC-Pasquotank Schools Superintendent dies

Stewart had planned to retire June 30

By Toby Tate
Staff Writer Monday, June 15, 2009

Tony Stewart, superintendent of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools the past nine years, died this past weekend at his home in Culpeper, Va., school officials announced earlier today. He was 67.

Stewart, who had been recuperating from a bout of double pneumonia, died in his sleep sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, school officials said.

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank school officials were stunned by the news, Board of Education Chairman Mark Small said.

“I’m remiss about Dr. Stewart’s death,” Small said during an early morning meeting of the school board. “I hoped he would be able to come and say his goodbyes. This is such a shock to so many of us.”

Acting Schools Superintendent Linwood Williams said that he had thought Stewart had been on the mend since contracting double pneumonia last December.

“When you hear that somebody has been moved from the hospital to their home and that they’ve gone out to restaurants, you tend to think they’re getting better,” he said.

Buck Jolly, principal at Weeksville Elementary, was also stunned by Stewart’s death.

“It was really a shock to us,” Jolly said. “I think we had the impression that he was getting better.”

Small acknowledged the school board received a statement from Stewart’s doctor late last month stating that the schools superintendent would not be able to return to his duties in Elizabeth City-Pasquotank. Small said the school board had planned to announce that fact either today or next Monday at its regular school board meeting. The board also planned to announce then Stewart’s intention to retire on June 30, he said.

“We were going to make an announcement next week,” Small said. “Our agreement was there was no benefit in pushing (his retirement).”

Stewart in fact had paid leave from the school district through July 21.

“He had served long enough in North Carolina (schools) to warrant a good retirement,” Small said.

The school board chairman said he had enjoyed working with Stewart and that the schools chief will be missed.

“He was hard working and he served the community well,” Small said. “He loved children greatly. I thought his greatest strengths were that he hired good people and he was a fiscally astute manager of funds. His strength was in managing the school system and recognizing talent in the people he hired.”

Williams also said that Stewart will be missed.

“I was incredibly saddened to hear about Dr. Stewart’s passing,” he said in a statement. “Almost every time Dr. Stewart spoke publicly, he discussed the importance of making a difference in the lives of others. ... He certainly made a difference in my own life by allowing me the opportunity to serve as assistant superintendent for the district. Dr. Stewart will be remembered for his dedication to the education of our children.”

Other area school officials said they were saddened by the news of Stewart’s death.

“I am saddened to hear it – we had heard that he was improving,” Currituck County Schools Superintendent Mike Warren said. “Tony and I go way back – he was real good friend and a dedicated superintendent. He will be missed.”

Three of the principals Stewart supervised in the school district also said they would miss his leadership.

“It’s a very, very sad day for our school system,” Northeastern High School Principal Don Sisson said. “He was one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met in my life. We’re going to miss him and his influence tremendously. It’s a personal loss for me. I consider him to be a friend and I have the utmost respect for him as an educator.”

Ainslie Jones, principal of H.L. Trigg Community School, said Stewart’s “dedication and commitment” to the school district was “outstanding.”

Jolly said Stewart had done “a terrific job.”

“He was always for the kids,” he said. “We will miss him as our leader. He was just a gentleman to all people – I will definitely miss him.”

David Pureza, vice president of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools Foundation, said foundation members were “shocked” by news of Stewart’s death.

“He’s been an asset to our educational system and will be greatly missed,” he said. “We certainly offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends and the members of our educational community.

Pasquotank Commissioner Matt Wood, a former school board member, called Stewart's death "a loss for the whole community."

"I think we were all surprised and shocked – I was under the impression that he was making progress (toward a recovery)," Wood said. "If there’s something positive that can come from this it’s that some people had to step up into leadership roles (in Stewart's absence) and that’s helping to build for the future."

Small said Williams will continue to manage the school district’s day-to-day operations for now. The school board does plan to meet to discuss finding a permanent successor to Stewart, but not immediately, he said.

“We will address that on Monday (at the school board meeting),” Small said. “(School system attorney) John Leidy said we technically have a vacancy, but we don’t have to take action right now. There is no timeline on that.”

No funeral arrangements have been released. Small said the school board plans to visit Stewart’s family in Culpeper, Va.

Stewart began his career in 1963 as a teacher, assistant principal and athletic director at Spotsylvania High School in Va. He also served as a principal for several other schools in Virginia.

His first job as a superintendent was at Culpeper County Schools in Virginia, serving there from 1981 to 1994. He was named superintendent of the Burke County Schools in western North Carolina in 1994, a post he filled until coming to Elizabeth City-Pasquotank in 2000.

Stewart received his bachelor’s of arts and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University and completed postgraduate work at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech University. He received his doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University in 1995 and also completed the Principal’s Executive Program at the University of North Carolina the same year.

Agenda for February 18, 2009 Meeting

Pasquotank Ministers' Council for Education

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Northside Elementary School

1062 Northside Road, Elizabeth City

8:30am

Welcome/Blessing/ Invocation....... Abel Sutton, PMCE Vice-Chairman

NES Student Presentations.... Introduced by Craig Laughton, ECPPS Laison

Poem- A fifth grade student

Musical Selection- Second Grade Students, under the direction of Lynnette Smith

Special thanks also go to the Fifth Grade Ambassadors for serving as campus escorts for today's meeting and to the Kindergarten and Third Grade Students, under the direction of Joan Wood, for providing the lovely centerpieces and placemats on the tables!

ECPPS Updates.......... Craig Laughton

Updates on Plans for the Second Annual PMCE Fundraiser

......................Margaret Twiford, PMCE Secretary

Discussion/ Q &A/ Announcements........... Matt Harrell, PMCE Chairman

Devotional & Benediction...............Abel Sutton

Adjournment

Reminder

The next PMCE meeting is scheduled to be held at Victory Life Church of God of Prophecy (778 Trinkaloe Road; 333-1687) on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 8:30a.m.

"Speaking Life, Serving Together, Making a Difference"

Annual Fund Raiser for 2009

Pasquotank Ministers' Council for Education

2nd Annual Fund Raiser

Friday, March 20

Lunch 11:00 to 2:00

Dinner 4:00 to 7:00

Catered by Captain Bob's

Location- Corinth Baptist Church on Hwy 17 South

Lunch Delivery available for 4 or more plates

"Steering Committee"

Co-Chair: Wilma Harris and Margaret Twiford, Secretary and Treasurer

Officers of Council: Matt Harrell, Chairman and Abel Sutton, Vice Chairman;

Publicity: Georgetta Jackson and Larry Taylor

Tickets: Renee Poyner and Sarah Jane Cartwright

Kitchen: Pauline Markham and Millie Tice

Traffic: Lin Bennett and Wayne Markham

All money raised by this event will be given through the Foundation for Education for the Elizabeth City Pasquotank Public Schools to be divided equally between the twelve schools. Money will go into each school's General Fund and be managed by the Counselors.

These proceeds will go to help with providing school supplies, clothers, personal hygene items (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, etc.), for Seniors who might need help purchaseing their cap and gown, Senior dues that must be paid, help with college application cost, and SAT costs.

Help is needed to make this a success. Please sign up in one or more areas.

We are depending on everyone coming together to help promote and sell tickets.

In order to serve both lunch and dinner, we must have 1000 tickets sold before the week of the event. Our goal is to sell 2000 tickets.

PMCE Agenda January 28, 2009

Pasquotank Ministers' Council for Education

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

(rescheduled from Wednesday, January 21, 2009)

The Mount at Elizabeth City

1021 US Hwy 17 S, Elizabeth City, NC

8:30am

Welcome................Abel Sutton, PMCE Vice-Chairman

Blessing/Invocation...................Rev. K.W. Brown, The Mount

ECPPS Updates......................Craig Laughton, ECPPS Laison

New Coats for Christmas campaign

Report..................Susan Hoskins, Albemarle Area United Way

Response...............Holly Glenn, ECPPS

Information on the Upcoming

Second Annual Fundraiser......................Margaret Twiford, PMCE Secretary

Discussion/Q&A/Announcements............Matt Harrell, PMCE Chairman

Devotional & Benediction.........................Matt Harrell

Adjournment

Reminder:

The next PMCE meeting will be held at Northside Elementary School (1062 Northside Road; 335-2033) on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 8:30am.

Comments:

Susan Hoskins reported that The Coats for Christmas campaign raised 106 coats for needy children in Pasquotank County.

Fund Raiser for PMCE will be held Friday, March 20, 2009. Menu will be barbeque chicken $7.50 per person. Our goal is 1500-2000 dinners sold- must have $1000 tickets sold.