Fullerton Principal, Longtime Educator to Retire

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and so too is the end of a 40-year career in education for one area elementary school principal.

Sue Biscoe became 's principal back in 2000 after a 28-year-long career in Baltimore City and Baltimore County public schools; first as a kindergarten teacher and later as an administrator.

"It was such a hard decision. I was actually thinking about leaving last year and I wasn’t sure if I was ready so I decided to stay one more year. But I think now that I’ve had this year to really reflect upon it, I think I’m ready," Biscoe said.

"It's bittersweet," Biscoe said. "I love what I do, I absolutely love the people. I love the students, I love the staff. I really have loved all the staff members I’ve worked with."

Biscoe, a Perry Hall resident and Highlandtown native, said she spent most of her career working on the county's east side, everywhere from to Red House Run and . At Fullerton, though, she found something special.

"People in Fullerton have a lot of pride in their community," Biscoe said. "Parents are really invested in and have a lot of respect for their children's education."

Fullerton, she said, is a wonderful community because of how involved families are. In addition to parents, she said that many grandparents are very involved.

"It’s beautiful to look out into that audience [at school events] and see all those families supporting their children and grandchildren," Biscoe said.

Speaking of grandchildren, spending time with hers—5-year-old Addison, 3-year-old Molly and 6-month-old Gianna—is what Biscoe plans to do with the bulk of her retirement.

"I do want to have the opportunity to do some things with my grandchildren — I don’t always have as much time to do that as I would like to now," Biscoe said. "When my kids were younger, my mother and mother-in-law were able to help take care of my children and I kind of feel like pay it back to your family."

Biscoe explained this is a big transitional year for the school; at the same time she retires, three teachers are also leaving.

"Teachers never leave Fullerton; the only time they leave is when they’re promoted. We’ve had a number of people be promoted from Fullerton," Biscoe said.

The school's new principal, announced at Tuesday night's , is one of those people. Candace Winterson won't have to travel far to her new post behind the principal's desk—it's just across the hall. Winterson, currently Fullerton's assistant principal, will take over Biscoe's position on July 1, according to Baltimore County public schools spokesman Charles Herndon.

Herndon said that Laura Brown, an assistant principal from Baltimore Highlands elementary school in Arbutus, would fill the assistant principal vacancy left by Winterson's promotion.