Purdy superintendent to resign at end of school year
Dr. Steven Chancellor
March 13, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones
Purdy Schools superintendent Dr. Steven Chancellor submitted a letter of resignation to the school board, announcing he will be leaving the district at the end of the school year.
Dr. Chancellor said the decision was a difficult one, but after seven years with the district, he needs to be closer to family. He said, "I am resigning to accept a position that is closer to where I grew up and closer to where the majority of my and my wife's family are."
Chancellor's last day with the district will be June 30.
He said, "It is certainly a bittersweet moment because this is the only school my kids have ever known. They have grown up here. We have made friends and have relationships that are lifelong relationships.
"It is hard to look people in the eye and say that I won't be seeing them this time next year, but they have been incredibly supportive. I think they all understand what's going on."
While fellow staff are sad to see Dr. Chancellor go, he said they understand because of the unique district that Purdy is and how close he is with students and staff. He shared, "In a lot of cases, the only way a student would know the superintendent is because they got in a bunch of trouble or something like that. In this case, from kindergarten to twelfth grade, they know who I am; they can call me by name and give me a hug. Every one of them I can ask some questions about things I know they are involved in. That's a unique thing for a superintendent to experience."
During his seven year tenure, Chancellor said he is proud of the strides the district made for students, staff and the community. While with the district, Purdy acquired a new FEMA storm shelter that doubles as a preschool and performing arts center. He said, "I think when I look at the last seven years as a whole, what I am most proud of is the mentality that we have that high expectations are good and necessary and that our kids have earned the right to compete in a work force and a society that they can thrive in.
"I think one of the biggest compliments I hear is people ask what is happening at Purdy, how can we come and watch and see what you're doing. And I think that speaks volumes for what we've done.
"Obviously I'm incredibly proud of the storm shelter. That application is one of the first things when I arrived in Purdy. It took a long time and close calls and I have to thank Scott Fitzpatrick for his support and his vision and commitment to see a storm shelter in Purdy."
Most of all, Dr. Chancellor said he will miss the friends he and his family have made while living in the community. He said, "The relationships are what I'll miss. It's the fact that I have a personal relationship with everyone who works here. Some of those are deeper than others, but I could tell you one personal thing about literally every person that works here.
"I'm going to miss running into people at the grocery store and the kids coming up and giving me hugs when they see me out in town. I am fortunate."
Chancellor was hired by a school district in the Columbia area, which is near his extended family.
Charlea Estes-Jones
Purdy Schools superintendent Dr. Steven Chancellor submitted a letter of resignation to the school board, announcing he will be leaving the district at the end of the school year.
Dr. Chancellor said the decision was a difficult one, but after seven years with the district, he needs to be closer to family. He said, "I am resigning to accept a position that is closer to where I grew up and closer to where the majority of my and my wife's family are."
Chancellor's last day with the district will be June 30.
He said, "It is certainly a bittersweet moment because this is the only school my kids have ever known. They have grown up here. We have made friends and have relationships that are lifelong relationships.
"It is hard to look people in the eye and say that I won't be seeing them this time next year, but they have been incredibly supportive. I think they all understand what's going on."
While fellow staff are sad to see Dr. Chancellor go, he said they understand because of the unique district that Purdy is and how close he is with students and staff. He shared, "In a lot of cases, the only way a student would know the superintendent is because they got in a bunch of trouble or something like that. In this case, from kindergarten to twelfth grade, they know who I am; they can call me by name and give me a hug. Every one of them I can ask some questions about things I know they are involved in. That's a unique thing for a superintendent to experience."
During his seven year tenure, Chancellor said he is proud of the strides the district made for students, staff and the community. While with the district, Purdy acquired a new FEMA storm shelter that doubles as a preschool and performing arts center. He said, "I think when I look at the last seven years as a whole, what I am most proud of is the mentality that we have that high expectations are good and necessary and that our kids have earned the right to compete in a work force and a society that they can thrive in.
"I think one of the biggest compliments I hear is people ask what is happening at Purdy, how can we come and watch and see what you're doing. And I think that speaks volumes for what we've done.
"Obviously I'm incredibly proud of the storm shelter. That application is one of the first things when I arrived in Purdy. It took a long time and close calls and I have to thank Scott Fitzpatrick for his support and his vision and commitment to see a storm shelter in Purdy."
Most of all, Dr. Chancellor said he will miss the friends he and his family have made while living in the community. He said, "The relationships are what I'll miss. It's the fact that I have a personal relationship with everyone who works here. Some of those are deeper than others, but I could tell you one personal thing about literally every person that works here.
"I'm going to miss running into people at the grocery store and the kids coming up and giving me hugs when they see me out in town. I am fortunate."
Chancellor was hired by a school district in the Columbia area, which is near his extended family.
