PINEVILLE — The state Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday made a special trip to schools in Bell County on Friday. He spent the day touring all three school districts and meeting with school superintendents, principals, and administration officials.

Middlesboro’s State Representative Rick Nelson said he invited the recently appointed commissioner to Bell County so he could meet with the school districts and discuss their progress and needs.

Friday morning, Holliday stopped at Pineville Independent Schools first, then proceeded onto the Bell County School District and Middlesboro Independent Schools.

At the Bell County School District, Holliday discussed with Superintendent George Thompson and other school officials the district’s low drop-out rate and high graduation rate, and even their push to incorporate technology into the classroom.

Pam Greene, Director of Pupil Personnel of BCSD, said the district was “excited and humbled” to showcase their recent accomplishments.

On behalf of the district, Greene presented Holliday two autographed novels by Kentucky writer Silas House as a positive representation of the Appalachian region.

Holliday then went to tour the Bell Area Technology Center on Bell County High School’s campus with officials, and then went to see the high school. From there, he went to Yellow Creek School Center, and then Middlesboro Independent Schools.

A native of Belton, South Carolina, Holliday worked most of his career in North Carolina school systems. He was selected as Kentucky’s fifth Commissioner of Education in July 2009.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.