Retiring school superintendent honored at ceremony

More than 450 people came out Thursday evening to honor and commemorate Marvin Connelly Jr. on his retirement as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, a job he has held since 2018.

Connelly, 62, was fêted in a retirement celebration held at John D. Fuller Sr. Recreational Athletic Complex on Old Bunce Road, marking the end of a 34-year career in education.

He’s not closing any doors on his other career, serving in the ministry for more than 40 years, 25 of them as the senior pastor of St. Augusta Baptist Church in Fuquay-Varina.

“So really, education has been an extension of my ministry. It’s not just a career, not just a job, but it’s part of my ministry. It’s part of who I am,” Connelly said.

The celebration included tributes from friends, family and former coworkers from the Wake County Public School System, where Connelly was previously chief of staff and assistant superintendent of Student Support Services.

Those who spoke used similar words to describe Connelly: “extraordinary leader,” “inspirational,” “truly remarkable,” “humble servant” and “a man of faith.”

Among those paying tribute were Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, who presented Connelly with a Key to the City; Kirk Deviere, chair of the Cumberland County commissioners; Cameron Bebeau, a graduate of Cumberland Academy 6-12 Virtual School and sophomore at Fayetteville State University; and former Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison. Connelly was also given the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the highest award given by the Governor’s Office.

Connelly and his wife, Joyce, sat on the stage, taking in the comments, vocal performances and a performance by Quinton Russell and Jordan Barnette of the Smith 16 Choral Group from E.E. Smith High School. Russell sang as Barnette performed a modern dance routine.

Connelly, who grew up in the small Burke County town of Valdese, knew early on he wanted careers in the ministry and education.

He was a 19-year-old student at N.C. State University when he was called to serve in the ministry.

“Believe it or not, I was called to my mission by the Lord when I was … in college at N.C. State and I’ve been serving the Lord ever since,” Connelly said.

Connelly has bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees, in special education and in school administration, respectively, from N.C. State. He graduated from East Carolina University with a doctorate degree in school administration and educational leadership.

His mother, who died last year, teased him when he began working on his doctorate degree, he said.

“My mother, from the foothills, the mountains, said, ‘Son, you have more degrees than a thermometer,’” Connelly recalled with a chuckle.

He served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq during the early 1990s, reaching the rank of major and is a combat veteran.

After leaving the military, Connelly said, he and a friend went to visit a special education classroom. He was familiar with special needs students as his mother worked at the Western Carolina Center (now known as the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center) in Morganton while two sisters and a brother worked at the N.C. School for the Deaf.

“My passion is helping people, children that are less fortunate or have special needs, but really helping all children and all people,” he said.

Connelly believes he was sent to Cumberland County Schools.

“I feel like I was sent here to Cumberland County on a divine assignment from the Lord. To help people and help children,” he said.

When he came to Cumberland County, he said, there were 27 schools in the district that were designated by the state as low-performing schools.

“That in itself is a challenge, and I wanted to do something about that,” Connelly said. “Well, we have gotten 17 schools off the state’s low-performing list. Now, we only have 15 low-performing schools and 11 met the state’s expectation of growth. We’re very proud of that. And we have the highest graduation rate in the history of Cumberland County Schools. So, I really feel like I have fulfilled my divine assignment.”

He has battled cancer during his tenure in Cumberland County.

“My first year here in 2019, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in my throat, my jaw and on my carotid artery in my brain,” Connelly said. “They told my family I probably wouldn’t survive [surgery] and if I survived, I would probably only live two months. It was bad.”

But he, his family and friends prayed for Connelly’s recovery as he went through chemotherapy and radiation.

“My faith in God and his heavenly hand got me through that. And that’s been six years ago. Six years now and I’m still here. I’m in full remission and there’s no signs of cancer.”

Connelly has nothing but praise for teachers and administrators of Cumberland County Schools.

“If you don’t remember anything else about me, I’m leaving my legacy with them, and they know that I cared about them,” he said. “I believe when you care about people, they will work harder. They may not remember all my awards or all my accolades, but I really believe people will remember how I treated people.

“I tried to treat them with respect and dignity like the professionals that they are.”