Covington County Schools Superintendent Terry Holley will retire in August.

Holley announced his decision at the board’s meeting Tuesday. It will mark the end of a 36-year career in education.

Holley said he made the announcement so that he could help train his successor.

“After 36 years, at this point, I’m just ready to retire,” Holley said. “But time goes by so fast,” he said “August 31 will be my last day. I want to make sure the transition goes smoothly.”

Board members spoke of Holley’s growth from teacher to coach to principal and then, superintendent.

“What you’ve done for this system throughout your career, those are big shoes to fill,” said board member Jeff Bailey. “The fact you’re willing to help someone speaks to your character.”

Holley took the superintendent’s job three years ago after the retirement of Sharon Dye. Tapped for the position because of his cost-conscious approach, he took some good-natured kidding from board members.

“It’s been said he invented copper pipe from stretching a penny, but he’s been faced with many difficult things in this position, and he has represented us well,” board member Jimmy Rogers said.

The board will advertise through the state education department’s website for applicants.

The other following personnel changes were approved:

• At Pleasant Home: to employ Ginger Flick as a lunchroom worker and to grant family medical leave to Trinity Dyess for March through May, and to accept the resignation of Donald Lewis as secondary math teacher, effective Friday;

• At Straughn Elementary, to grant family medical leave to Katrina Nichols for April and May; and,

• At Florala High School, to accept the resignation of Daniel Allison as English teacher effective Feb. 28.