The Liberty County school board has chosen a veteran superintendent, Harley Grove, to lead the system while they search for a successor to Dr. Steve Wilmoth who is leaving at the end of month.
Grove is a retired superintendent of the Wayne County schools and was already employed part time with the Liberty system where he worked with the Ombudsman program, disciplinary tribunals and Title I and other federal activities.
Grove will officially become interim superintendent July 1, the day after Wilmoth departs to become superintendent of Coffee County schools.
Ready for a second career after Wayne County, Grove joined the Liberty system part time in August 2004, helping with the alternative school, the Ombudsman program, STAR, curriculum and accreditation.
Grove said serving as interim superintendent can be a challenge because of the temporary nature of the job, but that he will be continuing the system’s successful momentum in moving forward, “and that’s not temporary.”

Continuing progress, liaison with the community and assisting the system’s team of excellent employees are among goals listed by Grove. He recognizes that his interim tenure may last for up to a year. A Georgia School Board Association official has told the local board that superintendent searches frequently take nine months or more.
This is not Grove’s first experience in Liberty County where he was a teacher at Bradwell Institute for three years before beginning his long career with the Wayne County schools, topped off with his two years as superintendent there.
Grove holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgia Southern College as well as two education specialist degrees from there.