The Beaufort County Board of Education approved the selection of a veteran North Carolina principal to take over as the leader of Coosa Elementary School.

Charles DelForge, principal of Stony Point Elementary School in Stony Point, N.C., is a 20-year educator who began his career teaching second- and third-graders in Raeford, N.C. After two stints as an assistant principal in Raeford and Fayetteville, DelForge took over as principal of Mattamuskeet Elementary in Swan Quarter, N.C., for six years, and was principal of Mt. Gilead Elementary in Mt. Gilead, N.C., for four years. He has been principal at Stony Point Elementary for two years.

DelForge replaces Carmen Dillard, who was promoted in February to become the school district’s Director of Elementary Academic Assistance.

“Charles has terrific leadership skills and a solid understanding of what it takes to operate a successful school,” said Superintendent Jeffrey Moss. “He relates well not only to faculty and staff, but also to his students and their parents.  We’re excited to have him.”

DelForge has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from Appalachian State and Western Carolina universities, respectively, a master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University, and an Ed.S. in school administration and supervision from East Carolina University.

During the Coosa Elementary search process, after all applications were screened to make certain that the candidates met the basic qualifications, a screening team reviewed the applications in depth and recommended candidates for personal interviews.

Next, a six-member interview committee met with the recommended candidates. That committee was comprised of a parent leader selected by the School Improvement Council, the school’s teacher of the year as selected by the faculty, a principal of a similar or “feeder” school, district Chief Instructional Services Officer Dereck Rhoads, district Chief Administrative Services and Human Resources Officer Alice Walton, and Superintendent Jeff Moss.

After each interview, committee members rated the candidate and those ratings were submitted to the superintendent. After the selected candidate’s personal references were called and verified, a recommendation was made to the Board of Education.