CHOCOWINITY — Southside High School Principal Dale Cole resigned from his position, effective last Friday.

Cole, who served as principal at Southside for three years, has worked for Beaufort County Schools for more than 15 years.

He began his career as an English teacher at Southside, became an assistant principal at Washington High School in 2006, and served as principal at P.S. Jones (2009) and Chocowinity (2011) middle schools before returning to Southside.

Cole was also named as the 2013 North Carolina Principal of the Year, and state Superintendent June Atkinson described him as having “all hallmarks of an exceptional school administrator.”

“Dale was a strong instructional leader. He was willing to look at innovative and progressive practices in education. He was willing to try new things in an effort to seek positive results,” Dr. Don Phipps, BCS superintendent, said. “He was successful in each school that he served as principal, and I am confident that he will be successful in his future professional endeavors.”

Cole is set to begin working for the state’s Department of Public Instruction as a school transformation coach, a position in which he will work with principals in low-performing schools to make improvements. He will officially start the position on Sept. 1.

“We wish him much success, and we are thankful for his service to our school system,” Phipps said. “Dale made an impression in our county, and that impression will last for many years to come.”

The school district is now looking for a new principal at Southside. An interim principal Clinton Johnson is in place, but the district is looking to hire a permanent replacement, Phipps said.

Cole is one of a handful of administrative changes throughout the county’s schools this year, including Principal Misty Walker’s resignation from Washington High, Kelly Makepeace’s promotion to principal of John Small Elementary and Principal Betty Jane Green’s move to a new spot at Beaufort County Ed Tech Center.