Newton County School Superintendent Dr. Steve Whatley was surprised with a portrait to hang in the boardroom of the NCSS and a resolution recognizing all his hard work for the system at Tuesday night's board meeting.

This was the last BOE meeting Whatley will attend. He is set to retire at the end of this month.

“This bunch is like family,” he said of the board. “And those who work in the school system know you eat and sleep education.”