Adkins bids farewell to School District of Lee County
During his five-and-a-half years as Lee County Superintendent of Schools, Gregory Adkins said the district accomplished much, from bringing every school up to state standards to championing for a half-cent sales tax referendum that would result in the construction and renovation of many schools.
On April 16, with dozens of principals and nearly the entire Lee County School Board on hand, Adkins announced he would be stepping down from his position when his contract expires on June 30.
Adkins, who served in the district for 33 years, was given a standing ovation as he made the announcement at the Lee County Public Education Center in Fort Myers.
“Serving as your superintendent … has been an honor and a privilege beyond my highest expectation,” he said. “During my tenure with the district, I have had the pleasure to serve with the most amazing and talented people this profession has ever seen.”
Adkins said Lee students continue to set records in graduation rates, the district has closed achievement gaps, and the number of underachieving schools in the county has dropped to zero, bringing Lee closer to its goal of becoming an A+ school district.
Adkins also brought up the half-cent sales tax passed by the voters to allow the district to build more schools and renovate nearly 20 others as the county continues to grow, saying it, as were many of the accomplishments, a team effort. Gateway High School and the new Lehigh Acres Middle School are set to open in August.
Adkins said during Hurricane Irma in 2017, Lee County Schools provided food and shelter to more than 25,000 citizens. In 2020, as the worldwide pandemic hit, Lee schools were among the first to provide face-to-face learning, which 80 percent of students are now doing again.
Adkins pushed back at those who said controversies are what have forced him to leave.
“This is something I have been thinking about for some time … We’ve set the groundwork, and to whoever is named the next superintendent, my hope is to work with my board members to make this the most positive transition for our community,” he said.
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