VALDOSTA — Valdosta City School System rallied around “Together We Are VCS” as teachers and faculty met the new school superintendent this week.

The 2015-16 convocation ceremony was held Monday at the Valdosta High School Performing Arts Center.

The city school system used the event’s theme to come together to celebrate the upcoming school year, recognize the nominated teachers of the year and introduce the newly voted superintendent.

Representatives from the city’s 10 schools heard Dr. William “Todd” Cason discuss his plans for the year and the school system.

“I believe that all children regardless of their social-economic status, their race, their ethnic background or the side of town they live on, they will learn when we give them the support and resources with caring and devoted teachers and staff,” Cason said. “This profession that we all take part in cannot be looked at as just a job because it is a calling.”

The Valdosta Board of Education voted to hire Cason for Valdosta City Schools superintendent at a meeting held Monday. The board named Cason the sole finalist in its superintendent search on July 17.

Cason is from Quitman. He is replacing former superintendent Martin Roesch, who retired this year after stepping into the position in February 2013.

“Over the years, I have come to value more than ever trustworthiness,

loyalty, morality, collaboration and teamwork as the keys to success of a school system,” Cason said. “We are greater together than we are individually. Together, we are the Valdosta City Schools and I quote ‘we are a school system and not a system of schools.’ Together, we are the Wildcats.”

The city school system’s teachers of the year were recognized. They are Gayla Valdez of S.L. Mason Elementary, Brooke Barr of Sallas-Mahone Elementary, Whitney Webb of J.L. Lomax Elementary, Sandra Paige of W.G. Nunn Elementary, Wendell Wooten of Pinevale Elementary, Yvonnie Jones of J.L. Newbern Middle, Cody Monerief of Valdosta Middle, Pamela Childress of Valdosta High School, Traci Jones of Valdosta Early College Academy and Jenne Wells of Horne Learning Center.

The overall system winner will be announced Aug. 18, at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet.

Wanda Hudson, 2014-15 Valdosta High School and System Teacher of the Year, spoke on behalf of all of the nominated teachers and is ready to name the upcoming Teacher of the Year.