The Polk County Board of Education has approved the selection of Danielle Gibbs to fill the vacancy left by the recent passing of former board chairman Geoffrey M. Tennant.

At its regular monthly meeting on Monday, the board voted to appoint Gibbs as the new representative for the Columbus Township seat. Gibbs will be officially sworn in at the board’s October meeting.

A 2005 Polk County High School graduate, Gibbs and her husband Grant own Gibbs Trucking in Columbus. They have three children, with one of those already enrolled in Polk County Schools. Gibbs is a 2010 graduate of Western Carolina University with a BSN in Nursing and is currently employed at Autumn Care of Saluda.

“It is an honor to have been appointed to the Polk County Board of Education. This incredible opportunity came at the untimely loss of one of Polk County’s finest people, Mr. Tennant. While no one will ever be able to fill his shoes, I will strive to make him proud in all that I do for our Board of Education.

“As a Polk County native, I was blessed to have been educated in the greatest school system statewide. Being able to give my children and all the children of Polk County the same wonderful childhood and exceptional education that I received here is my greatest desire.”

“We are pleased to welcome Danielle Gibbs to the Polk County Board of Education,” said Board of Education Chairman Rick Covil. “We believe Ms. Gibbs will do an excellent job representing the Columbus Township and that she will be a strong advocate for our students and schools.”

Polkstudents.com