Mr. Scotty Penland
Mr. Scotty Penland
Clay County Commissioner
Commissioner Scotty Penland was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2018 for a four year term. Mr. Penland is a retired school superintendent, having served 32.5 years as Superintendent of Clay County Schools and four years as Superintendent of Cherokee Central Schools. He graduated with an A.S. degree from Young Harris College in 1973 and earned a B.S. in Biology, an M.A in Administration, and an Ed.S in Administration from Western Carolina University
Mr. Penland is a past president of the NC Superintendents Association. He has served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council to then Speaker of the House, Thom Tillis (now a U.S Senator). Governor McCroy appointed him to the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching in 2015. Mr. Penland was presented the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” (NC’s highest civilian honor) by Governor Jim Martin.
Over the years, he has served on many boards, (educational and civic), in Clay County. He has a deep love for Clay County and will work tirelessly for the citizens of this county. Mr. Penland grew up in Clay County and graduated from Hayesville High School. He began his career in education teaching 6th grade Math and Science. He has been married to his wife Kathy for over 37 years and has two sons, Evan and Jon Patrick Penland. They have two grandsons, Austin and Ryan.