The Polk County Board of Education approved Monday night the selection of Aaron H. Greene as the next superintendent of Polk County Schools.

At its regular monthly meeting, the board unanimously voted to approve a three-year contract, effective August 1, 2016, with Greene, currently director of curriculum and instruction for Polk County Schools. Greene will replace retiring superintendent William J. Miller and become the fourth superintendent of Polk County Schools since consolidation into a single district in 1989.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected as the next superintendent of Polk County Schools,” Greene said. “I have been fortunate to work in this district for 22 years as a teacher, principal and district administrator and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our students, families, schools and county in this new role.

“I am excited to work with our dedicated Polk County Board of Education, outstanding public educators and incredibly supportive local community to ensure we continue to improve and provide the best education possible for our students.”

Superintendent of Polk County Schools since April 1, 2004, Miller informed the board earlier this year of his intent to retire August 1, 2016, ending a career of more than 30 years of service to the district.

The board then retained the Asheville law firm of Campbell Shatley, PLLC to assist in the search for a new superintendent. In the course of that search process, Greene emerged as the top selection.

“The idea was that we wanted to cast a wide net and see what the pool of potential superintendent candidates would look like,” said Geoffrey M. Tennant, chair of the Polk County Board of Education. “We had applicants from as far away as Oklahoma and both Virginias, but the bulk of the applicants were in the Carolinas.

“After the board had opportunities to review the applicants, the field narrowed considerably. It became apparent in the interview process that one candidate was vastly superior and better qualified than any of the other candidates who applied.”

A summa cum laude graduate of Appalachian State, Greene came to Polk County in 1994 as a mathematics instructor at Polk County High School. He served as lead teacher/technology specialist before becoming the school’s assistant principal in 2002. Greene replaced Miller as Polk County High School’s principal in 2003 and held that position until joining the district administration in 2011.

Greene holds a master’s degree in school administration from UNC Charlotte and will graduate from Appalachian State this summer with Superintendent Licensure. He plans to pursue his doctorate beginning in 2017.

– Submitted by Andy Rhinehart