Page 10 - The FayettevillePress newspaper December 2024 Holiday Edition
P. 10
Page 10 The Fayetteville Press Newspaper December 2024 Holiday Edition
Call Laura Hardy
Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr. Announces Retirement, Marking a Legacy of
Excellence in Cumberland County Schools
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cumberland National Magna Awards for eq-
County Schools (CCS) Superintendent Dr. uity efforts (2021 and 2022)
Marvin Connelly, Jr. announced his retirement North Carolina State
this evening during the Board of Education meet- Superintendent’s Purple Star District
ing, marking the culmination of 34 years of dis- Awards (2021–2024) for military-
tinguished service in public education. Dr. friendly practices
Connelly, who has served as the superintendent Forbes Best-in-State Employer
of CCS since 2018, will officially retire on July recognition (2021 and 2024)
1, 2025. The 2024 A. Craig Phillips North
Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Connelly ex- Carolina Superintendent of the Year
pressed his deep appreciation for the opportu- award.
nity to lead CCS through transformative change. Dr. Connelly also served as the
“I am profoundly grateful to this Board of first National Superintendent Chair for
Education, to our incredible staff, to our students The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,
and families, and to this entire community for further highlighting his commitment to
the unwavering support and partnership that have education and community service.
made this journey so meaningful,” said Dr. As he prepares to transition into
Connelly. “When I began this role in 2018, we retirement, Dr. Connelly remains op-
laid out an ambitious vision—The Cumberland timistic about CCS’ future.
Commitment: Strategic Plan—to transform our
schools and create opportunities for every stu- “This decision is not one I’ve
dent to succeed. Together, we’ve brought that made lightly, but I feel within myself
vision to life—raising graduation rates, reduc- fessionals, Exceptional Environment, and Committed Community. that it’s time to step into the next
ing low-performing schools, achieving equity in Dr. Connelly’s career is defined by a commitment to equity, innovation and excellence. chapter of my life,” he said. “My wife,
technology access, and strengthening family and Before joining CCS, he held leadership roles in the Wake County Public School System, serv- Joyce, our children, and especially our
community partnerships. The work we’ve done ing as Chief of Staff and Assistant Superintendent for Student Services. He began his career 11 grandchildren have been a constant
has been nothing short of extraordinary.” as a special education teacher assistant and worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and prin- source of joy and inspiration, and they
In 2019, shortly after stepping into his role cipal at both the middle and high school levels. deserve more of my time. My church
as superintendent, Dr. Connelly worked with the A proud veteran, Dr. Connelly served in the U.S. Army, including time with the 82nd family, who has supported me so
Board of Education and stakeholders to develop Airborne Division. His military service shaped his focus on leadership, discipline and service. faithfully throughout this journey, also
The Cumberland Commitment: Strategic Plan. Dr. Connelly holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina State needs me in a greater capacity. We’ve
This community-driven strategic plan set a bold University, two master’s degrees, and a doctorate in educational leadership from East Caro- built a strong foundation, and CCS is
vision to guide the district’s growth in four pri- lina University. well-positioned to continue moving
ority areas: Successful Students, Premier Pro- Under Dr. Connelly’s leadership, CCS earned numerous accolades, including: forward.”