BRUNSWICK COUNTY — For the past 46 years, Bob Grimes has been a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and, most recently, assistant superintendent for Brunswick County Schools.
This week, Grimes announced his plans to retire at the end of the year.
Brunswick County Schools spokeswoman Jessica Swencki described Grimes’ tenure as a “truly epic career,” citing his leadership and love of reading in establishing school system’s “Today a Reader—Tomorrow a Leader” initiative.
Grimes has also been credited with expanding many of the schools’ library collections.
“Whereas reading is the gateway skill to all other academic learning and career success, Bob’s work will benefit our students for a lifetime. Bob Grimes models what he espouses, as he is the most prolific reader in the county,” Superintendent Edward Pruden said.
Grimes was recently selected as the 2012 North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA) Administrator of the Year. Grimes will receive the award Oct. 5 at the NCSLMA conference in Winston-Salem.
“I am honored to receive the recognition from NCSLMA as the administrator of the year. This award represents the efforts of our principals and most importantly the media specialists at all 19 of our schools. They are the ones who truly lead by example and work each day to create libraries that are irresistible to our students,” Grimes said.
Swencki said Grimes has served as a mentor to countless teachers and administrators throughout his career.
“Those fortunate to work with him know at the core of his commitment to public education is his love and advocacy for students,” Swencki said.
Grimes will retire Dec. 31.
“Bob Grimes is one in a million: Nationally recognized school turnaround specialist; award-winning high school principal and leader of effective practices to promote literacy as the foundational skill to all other learning; mentor and coach to hundreds of teachers and school administrators; caring advocate for students.
“His career spanning four decades is the model of the student-centered, excellence-driven public school leader. We will fill his position, but Bob Grimes cannot be replaced,” Pruden said.
