More than 100 well-wishers gathered Monday afternoon in Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center to congratulate Dr. Cindy Bennett on her upcoming retirement and to reflect on her impact as superintendent of Vance County Schools and on public education.

With family, friends, coworkers and community leaders in the audience, Bennett said she knew very early on that she wanted to be a teacher.

Now, looking back on a career that has spanned more than 40 years, Bennett is set to retire at the end of July. She was named superintendent of Vance County Schools in June 2021, succeeding Dr. Anthony Jackson.

Bennett thanked her parents for instilling in her and her siblings the basics: “hard work, to be people of integrity, to be good human beings and to love God most of all,” she said.

Starting out as a 2^nd and 3^rd grade teacher, Bennett said she was a “little afraid” to share the faith aspect of her life. But over the years, she has been able to champion others to share their faith, and to give hope to those who may need it most.

“Hope is what educators can offer,” she said. A teacher’s job is to give students the best possible opportunity to succeed, she said. “That begins with hope. From that, we move forward.”

Bennett said God had given her many wonderful opportunities, and she got a little emotional when she said she was “a child of God doing the work that he has called me to do.”

Representing the central office leadership, Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney spoke about their colleague and their friend, wishing her well as retirement nears.

Ross-Putney praised Bennett for her steady leadership, “keeping students the priority, believing in people. Kindness and accountability can coexist,” she said.

Kristen Boyd, principal of E.O. Young Elementary, spoke on behalf of the district’s principals. Boyd called Bennett a transformational leader who is authentic and collaborative – someone who is “solution-oriented” and who leads with optimism.

Bennett’s oft-used “I wonder if…” and “what’s the best that can happen?” are examples of how she approaches difficult situations that plant seeds of encouragement “to keep the focus where it belongs – on doing what is best for children,” Boyd said.

Boyd described Bennett as “a fearless woman of faith,” who guided the school district with wisdom, grace and integrity.

School Board Chairperson Ayana Lewis thanked Bennett for leading with care and compassion, for her visionary leadership, for creating expanded opportunities for students and for her unwavering belief in every child.

“Education is about more than academics,” Lewis said, adding that she sees the heart that the outgoing superintendent has for the students, staff and families.

Bennett, she said, is a “servant leader whose heart has always been centered on the students of Vance County Schools.”

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