The Tyrrell County Board of Education this week announced the selection of  Oliver A. Holley as the next school superintendent, effective Oct. 15.

During the search process, the board reviewed applications from a diverse field of 38 candidates. Although many qualified candidates applied, the board felt that Holley’s experience, leadership and dedication to students would best serve Tyrrell County schools, officials said in a news release.

Holley has enjoyed a successful career in public education in North Carolina for more than 17 years. Since 2016, he has served as the chief human resources officer for Perquimans County schools, overseeing the overall success and daily operation of the department. In Perquimans he also serves on the curriculum and instruction team, superintendent leadership cabinet and district safety team.

Prior to his current position, Holley served as a middle school principal, assistant principal, dean of students in several elementary school programs, and curriculum intervention specialist at Northampton County High School-East, all in the Northampton County school system.

Holley also served as director of afterschool programs in Weldon City Schools. He began his career as a teacher in Bertie County. In 2001, Holley was named Bertie County New Teacher of the Year.

Holley holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Elizabeth City State University in 2001. After this, he earned a master’s degree in school administration from Cambridge College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from East Carolina University in Greenville.

Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Holley to serve on the North Carolina Teacher and State Employee Retirement Commission Board of Trustees in February of this year. Holley is the current state president of the principal and administrators division of the North Carolina Association of Educators. He is married to Natasha Holley, and together they have two children.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to lead Tyrrell County schools,” Holley said in a statement. “I look forward to meeting and speaking with students, staff, parents, and community members to begin learning about the great things happening in Tyrrell County schools and how we can work together to achieve at even higher levels.”

A reception to welcome Holley will be held Oct. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Tyrrell Board of Education building.