New superintendent named

Several teachers, principals and other employees of Clay County Schools welcomed new school superintendent Thomas Dale Cole after the regular school board meeting adjourned Monday night. 

The 2013 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year signed his contract at the end of the meeting as his family joined him. Cole, his wife Kim, and their children, Darah, Delta and Ty, had traveled from eastern North Carolina to spend some time in the community they will soon call home. 

While Cole will officially start Nov. 1 at a salary of $120,000 per year, he has already rented a small basement apartment in Clay County so he may spend some time acclimating himself to the schools and the area. During a phone interview Tuesday morning, Cole, who prefers to be called Dale, shared more of his background. 

“I am just starting year 24 of working in education,” he said. “I am so excited to work with the students, teachers, parents and the community. This will my first superintendent job and it’s something I have worked for my whole career.” 

Cole has researched the school’s information and is pleased with what he has learned. “The football team is doing well. The growth the schools are having with scores says something to the hard work of the teachers and the students,” he said. Cole is an Eastern Carolina University alumnus, which he said he has attended three times. In addition to a bachelor of science degree in English education and high school English, he holds a master’s degree in school administration. 

His current role as director of instruction for Hyde County Schools in Swan Quarter, N.C., has him doing career technical education for grades fifth through 12 and overseeing testing for grades K through 12, as well as curriculum and instructions for K-12. According to Cole, Hyde County Schools has the smallest school district in the state with about 1,300 students. 

Cole had served in administrative roles at the middle and high school level. He was an assistant principal for two and half years and a principal for eight years. Prior to that, he was a high school English teacher, as well as a coach of football and baseball for about 12 years. “I was never head football coach, but I was defensive coordinator when our football team had some great years,” he said. “We went to state championships a few times. Once we lost it to Swain.” 

When he was chosen as North Carolina Principal of the Year, he was appointed to several committees to work closely with the state Senate and House, as well as working close with then Gov. Pat McCrory. “I represented the state in all state Board of Education meetings,” he added. 

One of his accomplishments during that time was being chosen to travel to China for 10 days with approximately 40 other principals. “Seeing the Great Wall and their schools was a great experience,” he said.

Cole is looking forward to living in the mountains full time. “We have been camping in the Clay County area for years and love the area. Obviously, this is different for me. I have lived my entire life down east on the coast,” the North Carolina native laughed. “The Pamlico River is about 3 miles across, not like rivers in the mountains. I have a lot to learn about things here.”

He and his wife attended the same high school, known as Chocowinity High School at the time.

She works as an environmental inspector for underground fuel storage tanks. Cole’s family plans to remain where they are until Darah graduates from high school next spring. Then his wife and other two children will move to Clay County. In the meantime, they will look for a family home here.

Acting school superintendent Scotty Penland is happy with the school board’s choice. “I am very excited for the Clay County School system,” Penland said. “Cole is highly qualified and comes to us highly recommended by many who have worked with him. His 24 years experience within the North Carolina Public Schools will allow him to hit the ground running.”

Penland feels confident he will leave Clay County Schools in good hands. “Being a former North Carolina Principal of the Year gives him instant credibility, as that process is very competitive and he was chosen as the 'best of the best',” Penland added. “Clearly, the students of Clay County Schools are the winners here.”

Cole said he looks forward to meeting people in the community, as well as being involved in the community. “I have a lot to learn from the people and I will be asking questions,” he said. “I want to get out and about and meet business owners and other stake-holders in the community. I want to do everything I can to embed myself in Clay County.”

The contract the school approved for Cole goes through June 30, 2022.