The superintendent of Cumberland County Schools announced his retirement, effective July 1, at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Education.

Marvin Connelly Jr. has worked in education for 34 years, with six years as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools,” Connelly said as he made the announcement.

In a statement about his retirement, Connelly spoke of his family, which includes 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild, saying that they deserve his time.

The decision was made “through much prayer and seeking the will and the guidance of God,” Connelly said.

Connelly told the board he will work to ensure there is a smooth transition with the next administrator.

In a news release sent out late Tuesday, Connelly thanked the staff, students and families, and “this entire community for the unwavering support and partnership that has made this journey so meaningful.”

New board members sworn in

Tuesday’s meeting also included the swearing-in ceremony for the recently elected new members and incumbents: District 1 representative Mary A. Hales; Deanna Jones, District 2; Delores Bell, District 3; Jackie Warner, District 4; Susan Williams, District 5; Terra B. Jordan, District 6. Greg West, Jacquelyn Brown and Judy Musgrave are the board’s three at-large members.

  • An older Black woman wearing a black suit jacket with white embroidered flowers holds her hand up and speaks while being sworn in. Behind her are other people, including two older Black men. The back of a Black man wearing a white jacket who is administering the oath of office is visible.
    Mary Hales, the District 1 representative, is sworn in as a member of the county Board of Education by Rev. Carlton Brown. Hales is a newcomer to the board. Credit: Courtesy of Cumberland County Schools
  • A Black woman wearing glasses holds her hand up and speaks while being sworn in. Behind her are other people, including a young Black boy and young Black men. The back of a judge, a Black man wearing black robes and administering the oath of office, is visible.
    District 2 Board Member Delores Bell, who is newly elected this year, takes the oath of office on Tuesday, Dec. 10, administered by District Court Judge Rosalyn Hood. Credit: Courtesy of Cumberland County Schools
  • An older white woman wearing a red suit holds her hand up and speaks while being sworn in. Behind her are other people, including two young white girls, a white man and a white woman. The back of a judge, a Black woman wearing black robes and administering the oath of office, is visible.
    Jackie Warner, newly elected to represent District 3 on the Board of Education, is sworn in on Tuesday, Dec. 10 by District Court Judge Tiffany Whitfield. Credit: Courtesy of Cumberland County Schools
  • A Black woman wearing a black pinstripe suit jacket holds her hand up and speaks while being sworn in. Behind her are other people, including a young Black woman and young Black man. The back of another woman is visible who is administering the oath of office.
    Terra B. Jordan, a newly elected member of the Board of Education, is sworn in by state Rep. Frances Jackson (D-45). Jordan represents District 6 on the board. Credit: Courtesy of Cumberland County Schools

The board voted unanimously for Jones, the current board chair, to serve another term in that position while Musgrave will serve as vice chair.

Nancy McCleary is a freelance writer who has worked more than 40 years at newspapers in Virginia, New Hampshire and North Carolina. She is a former reporter for The Sanford Herald, The Fayetteville Observer and the Mount Airy News.