Newly appointed Marietta High School principal Eric L. Holland is the sole superintendent finalist for Rome City Schools.
Holland started working as principal of Marietta High on July 18. He was announced finalist for the superintendent role this week.
Marietta City Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera did not know Holland was in the running for the Rome superintendent role, a Marietta schools spokeswoman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Rome News-Tribune reported in July that Holland was one of 18 candidates for the superintendent’s position.
“If a change in leadership at Marietta High School should occur, my highest priority will be making sure that our staff, our students, and our community experience a seamless transition,” Rivera said in an emailed statement. “Marietta High School will be my highest priority, and our community can hold me accountable for a seamless transition.”
Holland’s contract doesn’t expire until June 30. The contract can’t be terminated without the district’s written consent, it states. It also states the district could collect damages for its losses if Holland terminates the contract early.
Prior to coming to Marietta High, Holland served as principal of Rome High School. He has 23 years of experience in education.
“To our students, I’m here to love you. To our staff, I’m here to lead you. To our parents and community, I’m here to listen to you,” Holland said in a video welcoming everyone back to school. “I’m so excited to bring family here, my wife, my two boys, to be a leader in this community, bring extra energy every day, and with the mindset that no one of us is as a great as all of us.”
State law requires superintendent finalists to be named for a period of two weeks before a final vote to hire that individual. Former Rome superintendent Louis Byars retired on May 31 after five years in the role.
Holland replaced Keith Ball, who was reassigned in June to work as a district administrator in Marietta.
About 6,500 students attend Rome City Schools.
