WCPSS welcomes familiar face as superintendent search continues

WAKE COUNTY, NC (WTVD) -- Wake County's new interim superintendent is receiving praise among his colleagues as he transitions into a new role.

"It is really is an honor to come and serve during this transition period," Dr. Del Burns said. "Wake County is home to me. I care deeply about the school system and this community and being about to serve is important to me."

Burns is returning to Wake after eight years.

He previously served as superintendent of WCPSS from 2006-2010. He left to run his own educational consulting firm, Burns Alliance, which provides coaching, mentoring, and training for administrators in a variety of districts across several states.

He served his career in Wake as a special education teacher.

He attended his first meeting Tuesday as the interim and Board member Bill Fletcher said, "We're very glad to have you here."

"We are absolutely continuing our process and glad to have you with us during the transition," said Wake County Board Monika Johnson-Hostler.

Dr. Jim Merrill retired at the end of 2017.

There are 20 educators vying for the full-time position. Half of the applicants already work in North Carolina and the other half are out-of-state.

Johnston-Hostler says members will be weighing public comments.

"We value the community's feedback and want to ensure that you all see that we are absolutely reading, and I personally still am referring back to those, as we start to take a look at the applicants that are coming before us," she said.

Board members will start reviewing the applicants and combing through their information in the next week or so.