DCS swears in new interim superintendent

KENANSVILLE — A special meeting on Aug. 4 was called to appoint Daren Tyndall as interim superintendent of Duplin County Schools. He was sworn in the the next day at the school board’s regular meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting began with a prayer from rising East Duplin freshman Cecilia Thigpen addressing the death of Tyndall’s predecessor, Austin Obasohan. Obasohan, who died July 24, was the school system’s superintendent for 15 years.

“This is just one more thing that Obasohan leaves with us,” Brent Davis, chair of the Board of Education, said of Thigpen’s prayer.

Davis said Obasohan had been working for some time to have students come lead prayer at meetings.

“It is something that just started before he passed, and it is something we plan on continuing with,” Davis said.

Flowers and a white ribbon adorned Obasohan’s seat as the meeting proceeded. With no public comments and an agenda approved, the board moved forward with swearing in the new interim superintendent. Crystal Strickland from the Clerk of Court’s office administered the oath of office, swearing in Tyndall.

Tyndall has worked at Duplin County Schools for over 34 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, executive director of human resources, along with his current role as assistant superintendent for human resources.

He will take on the additional duties while the board begins its search for a permanent superintendent.

“We’ve had a wonderful man for the past 15 years,” Tyndall said of Obasohan, “and he’s established a foundation that puts children first. We also have a wonderful board. I am honored and humbled to be able to serve.”

Following the swearing in, the board went into a closed executive session to discuss personnel issues. Once in open session, they approved the decisions made in closed session before adjourning.