The former North Carolina Association of Educators “Superintendent of the Year” Garrett explained that while she’s excited to see what the future might bring, she has mixed feelings about leaving her post of 13 years.

“There’s always a sadness when you’re leaving something,” she said. “This is something I really love doing,”

During her time as superintendent, Garrett and the elected school board guided the district from middling statewide performance to top 10 percent status; this year, for the second year in a row, only 10 of the state’s 115 school districts performed better than Haywood County did.

“It has been a blessing working with Dr. Garrett and the board will miss her outstanding leadership. Dr. Garrett has been a great asset to the citizens of Haywood County, Haywood County Schools and all of our employees. She has been an inspiration to me and I will continue to seek her advice,” said Chuck Francis, chairman of the Haywood County Board of Education, in a statement emailed to the media Nov. 13.

Garrett said she would not be part of the search process that will identify her replacement, and that she looks forward to spending more time writing children’s books.