With contract approved, new Beaufort school chief to start July 1

The Beaufort County Board of Education has agreed to a $220,000 five-year contract with Jeffrey Moss and signed the currently superintendent of 9,850-student Lee County Schools in Sanford, N.C., as the new leader in Beaufort County.

Here are more details from a release:

Moss is scheduled to begin work on July 1. Board Chairman Bill Evans said that Moss will make periodic trips to the district over the next few months to begin familiarizing himself with his new position and to provide input as the Board develops the district's FY 2013-14 budget.

"The Board believes that Dr. Moss is an excellent choice, and we're looking forward to working with him," Evans said. "He has a track record of success in his two previous superintendent's positions, and during our research we heard again and again about his ability to manage staff and resources so that students have the best possible chance of success."

Ray and Associates, an Iowa-based firm hired by the Board to coordinate the national search, received 122 applications from candidates in 42 states. The consultants conducted background checks on the 122 applicants and brought 11 candidates to the Board, which interviewed seven before announcing three finalists, a number that was eventually reduced to two prior to the Board's final selection. Moss will have a base salary of $220,000.

Moss is a 30-year education veteran who began his K-12 career in Hoke County, N.C., where he worked as a teacher, as director of vocational and technical education, as assistant district superintendent for instruction and as technology and as associate superintendent for curriculum and technology. Prior to becoming superintendent in Lee County, he served as superintendent of Beaufort County (Washington, N.C.) Schools for five years and as superintendent of Stanly County (Albemarle, N.C.) Schools for three years.

Among his accomplishments as superintendent in Lee County, Moss cited establishing a laptop computer program for all students and staff in grades 3-12, encouraging students to enroll in higher-level classes, and expanding career and technical education programs through apprenticeships and school-based academics. During his tenure, Lee County's on-time graduation rate increased dramatically and the dropout rate fell, particularly among minority and economically disadvantaged students.

Moss currently serves as the chairman for the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium and recently completed chairing a North Carolina Association of School Administrators committee on performance pay that resulted in a recommendation that was presented to the North Carolina General Assembly last month.

Moss was the recipient of the North Carolina Technology in Education Society 2011 Outstanding Leader Award and is currently a nominee for the International Society for Technology in Education Outstanding Leader Award. He was the 2012 Outstanding Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Administrator for North Carolina and is also a three-time nominee for the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year award.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Pembroke State University; a Master's Degree from North Carolina A&T University and a Ph.D. in Education Administration from South Carolina State University.

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