Special to Iredell Free News
The Mooresville Graded School District Board of Education has selected Jason Gardner as the district’s next superintendent.
“I am honored with the opportunity to serve as the next leader of Mooresville Graded School District,” Gardner said in a statement, “and I look forward to engaging with the community to ensure that we are providing an excellent education for every child, every day!”
He will succeed Stephen Mauney, who retired June 30 after serving 29 years in public education.
Gardner’s appointment will begin once he is released from his position by Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
During the search process, the MGSD board carefully reviewed applications from a diverse field of 22 candidates from ten different states. Although many qualified candidates applied, the board felt that Gardner’s experience, leadership, and dedication to students and staff would best serve MGSD students, employees, and the community for years to come.
Gardner has enjoyed a long and successful career in public education spanning over 20 years in North Carolina. He currently serves as the interim superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury Schools (RSS), where he has also worked as chief academic officer and executive director of elementary education.
Over the last six years, Gardner has played a pivotal role in helping RSS substantially improve the number of schools meeting or exceeding growth.
Prior to joining RSS, Gardner spent four years working as a principal and assistant principal in Mooresville Graded Schools. In addition, he previously served as a teacher and assistant principal in the Iredell-Statesville Schools (2003-2012) after beginning his career in 2002 as a teacher in the Gaston County Schools. In addition to his K-12 experience, he has also worked as an adjunct professor at Catawba College and Wingate University.
Gardner earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Concord University (2001), his master’s degree in school administration from Appalachian State University (2006), and his Doctorate of Education in educational leadership from Wingate University (2015).
Gardner is married to Meghan McGrath and has three children, Abigail, Taveon, and Jaxson, and two stepchildren, Nolan and Ellie.