CULLOWHEE (February 26, 2016)—Governor Pat McCrory has appointed Douglas Scott Penland of Hayesville, and reappointed Elaine Boone of Burnsville, and Greg West of Fayetteville to the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a recognized national leader in professional development programming for our state’s teachers.
Penland has had a distinguished career in North Carolina education, including most recently serving as Superintendent of Cherokee Central Schools. He retired from the Clay County School System after 38 years of service, where he was Superintendent of Schools for 32 years. The Western Carolina University alumnus was honored as the Western Regional Superintendent of the Year twice and was the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year in 1996.
He has been the Chairman of the North Carolina Small Schools Consortium and a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators. Penland is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an award given annually to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to North Carolina.
Penland attended Western Carolina University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology, a Masters of Arts degree in Administration and an Ed.S degree in Administration. He then attended the Superintendent Executive Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I am very pleased to welcome Scott Penland to the NCCAT Board of Trustees,” said M. Brock Womble, executive director of NCCAT. “He understands North Carolina education from many perspectives and is committed to being an active and engaged member of the board.”
Penland’s appointment term began February 9, 2016 and will end October 31, 2017.
Womble said he is pleased that Boone and West are willing to continue their service to NCCAT and teachers across North Carolina.
Boone had a distinguished career as a business teacher with Buncombe County Schools (1964–1966), business teacher at Yancey County Schools (1966–2001) and faculty at Mayland Community College (1972–2005). Her term of appointment to the NCCAT Board of Trustees began on March 27, 2014. Her new appointment will end October 31, 2019.
The son and husband of teachers, West has a deep commitment to public education, including serving on the Cumberland County school board. West’s term of appointment to the NCCAT Board of Trustees will end October 31, 2019. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2013 and served until 2015.