Page 15 - The Fayetteville Press Newspaper June & July 2025 Edition

The Fayettville Press June/July 2025 Edition Page 3b

Cumberland County Schools Honors

Superintendent’s Legacy: Celebrating 34 Years of Exceptional Service and Student Success

Hundreds gathered from across the state to honor his impact and celebrate a career marked by excellence

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – More than 400 guests from tem, including Chief of Staff and Assistant Superintendent
across North Carolina gathered at the John D. Fuller, Sr. Rec- for Student Support Services. He began his career as a
reational/Athletic Complex tonight to honor Cumberland County teacher assistant and special education teacher and later
Schools (CCS) Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., who is served as a middle and high school principal --experiences
set to retire on July 1, 2025, following an extraordinary 34- that grounded his leadership in the deep understanding of stu-
year career in education. dent and teacher needs.
Dr. Connelly receiving the Key to the City from Mayor Beyond the classroom, Dr. Connelly has also made a
Colvin. The event was a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Connelly’s trans- lasting difference through his faith and community service.
formational leadership and unwavering commitment to excel- He is the Senior Pastor of St. Augusta Baptist Church in
lence. Guests included CCS staff and students, local and state Fuquay-Varina, where he leads spiritual outreach and ser-
officials, community and church members and Dr. Connelly’s vice initiatives. A proud veteran, Dr. Connelly served as a
family and friends. The evening was filled with powerful perfor- U.S. Army officer, including time in the 82nd Airborne Divi-
mances from two CCS high school orchestras, a choral group Reflecting on the evening and his journey, Dr. sion, and attained the rank of Major in the Individual Ready
and several vocalists, all of whom shared their talents in cel- Connelly shared the following thoughts: "It has been Reserve.
ebration of a leader who has long championed the arts and stu- the honor of my life to serve the students, families Throughout his career, Dr. Connelly has earned numer-
dent achievement. and staff of Cumberland County Schools. Every de- ous accolades, including the 2024 A. Craig Phillips North
Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin presented Dr. Connelly cision I’ve made has been guided by a simple but Carolina Superintendent of the Year Award, Sandhills Re-
with the prestigious Key to the City, recognizing his profound powerful belief—that every child deserves the oppor- gional Superintendent of the Year, NAACP Educator of the
impact on education and the broader community. tunity to thrive. I am deeply grateful for the relation- Year Award and East Carolina University Hall of Fame in-
The Legacy ships built, the challenges overcome and the many suc- ductee. A published author and respected voice in educa-
Dr. Connelly has served as Superintendent of CCS since cesses we've achieved together. Though I may be tional leadership, he has built a reputation of fostering strong
2018, overseeing 86 schools, nearly 50,000 students and more stepping away from this role, my commitment to chil- community partnerships and promoting student success.
than 6,500 employees. Under his leadership, the district has dren and public education will never retire." As CCS prepares for this leadership transition, the dis-
made significant strides in academic achievement and in closing The Leader trict community remains inspired by Dr. Connelly’s enduring
learning gaps, supported by a budget exceeding $600 million. Prior to leading CCS, Dr. Connelly held several influence and heartfelt dedication to students, staff and the
His visionary strategies have consistently focused on ensuring key positions in the Wake County Public School Sys- greater good.
all students receive a high-quality, rigorous education.

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