By Beverly Murry, Co-Editor-in-Chief
On a sunny Saturday morning, the Farrelly family made the drive from its home in Tarboro to the Outer Banks. While crossing the Alligator River on the home stretch to the small island community, Cate – the youngest in the family – gleefully asked her father if they were going to the beach.
“ ‘Yes, Cate – we’re going to the beach and hopefully we’re never leaving,’ ” John Farrelly recalled with a smile.
Farrelly was introduced as the new superintendent for Dare County Schools at Saturday’s specially called meeting of the Board of Education at Manteo Elementary School. Board members made the decision after a national search that included 78 applicants from 30 states and the District of Columbia. Farrelly was chosen after a process of interviews with the top four applicants.
Members of the Board of Education said they are both “pleased and thrilled” to have Farrelly because of his successful track record. He led Edgecombe County – which includes Tarboro and the surrounding area – since 2012, served as superintendent of Washington County Schools, and was an assistant superintendent of Alleghany County Schools in the mountains on the NC-Virginia state line.
Farrelly is about to earn his doctoral degree from East Carolina University and currently ranks No. 1 in his class in the Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership, according to a DCS press release about his hiring. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in physical education from the State University of New York at Cortland.
At his introduction, Farrelly discussed his dedication to being a visible part of the community and becoming an active member of the community. He intends on working closely within the school system to better address issues and continue Sue Burgess’ successful term.
“Part of the assessment process is coming in and doing a lot of observation and listening and getting a sense of where our schools are, where the strengths and weaknesses are, and where our challenges may be,” Farrelly explained. “It’s a process of working with the central office team, the school principal, the teachers, and getting a sense of school culture.”
Farrelly will officially be in office on July 1, marking the end of Burgess’ 17-year term as she begins her retirement. The Board of Education will be holding a public reception for the community to meet the superintendent and his family at Nags Head Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. Everyone is invited to attend the reception.
Beverly Murry is a rising senior on the Nighthawk News Magazine staff. She can be reached at murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.
