Scotty Penland
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
When Clay County Commissioner Scotty Penland left as Clay County Schools Interim School Superintendent in 2019, he did not utter Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous movie catchphrase, “I’ll be back.” Perhaps he should have.
On Monday, June 19, the Clay County Board of Education officially announced Penland would again return as the interim superintendent while a search is made for a new superintendent. Penland will officially return to his former office on July 1.
Penland was the longtime superintendent for Clay County Schools before he retired in 2013, after 32 years. From 2013 to 2017, he oversaw the schools of Cherokee Central as superintendent.
After retiring from the Cherokee Schools, he returned to Clay County for four months as interim superintendent in 2018. Penland left when Dr. Gary Gibson took the helm of Clay County Schools.
Gibson left in 2019, and Penland was again asked to be interim superintendent. At that time, he served for six months until Clay County Schools’ current superintendent, Dale Cole, took the job. Cole officially resigned on May 23. His last day as the superintendent for Clay County is June 30. He starts as the superintendent of schools, for Brunswick County, N.C. on July 1.
An announcement shared on the schools’ social media said, “After discussions and interviews with other potential candidates, the board determined that Mr. Penland would be the best choice to fulfill this role.”
In response to the question, “Did you think you’d be acting or interim superintendent again,” Penland laughed. “I really didn't think much about it at the time,” he said. “After a few days passed, the school board attorney called me and asked if I would be interested. I told him I would need to think about if for a couple of days.”
Penland is also a county commissioner, as he was last time he served as interim. He explained how he is able to do both jobs, “They will basically be two completely different roles. I will answer to the Board of Education as superintendent,” he said. “The county budget for 2023-2024 was already passed and made official before the school board selected me to fill this role. The commissioners and school board work well together and I think working in this position could actually enhance this relationship, as both boards are working toward the same goal: to provide a ‘world class’ educational system for the students of Clay County.”
He does not plan to amend anything already planned for the schools. “I know working toward getting the new school under way will be, and already is, on the front burner,” he said. “I don't foresee any major changes during my tenure here. There are good employees already in place and my goal is to give them the support they need to have a great 2023-2024 school year.”
Penland added, “As always, I will work day and night to help our students be successful and at the same time make sure the faculty and staff know they are appreciated. Parents are vital in this process too. I want them to know that they are their child's first and foremost teacher.”
Some people commented on Clay Schools Facebook page how they are happy Penland is returning. Would he consider coming out of retirement to oversee the schools as the permanent school superintendent again? “No, I would not entertain that idea,” he answered adamantly. “The school system needs someone a whole lot younger with a lot more years to give.”
The Clay County Schools press release ended, “The board looks forward to working with Scotty Penland through this period of transition and opportunity for growth at Clay County Schools.”