WAKE COUNTY, N.C. -- Wake County Public Schools has officially selected their new superintendent.

  • New superintendent is Cathy Moore.
  • She is replacing Jim Merrill.
  • Moore previously served as deputy superintendent for academic advancement.

Cathy Moore has been chosen for the position.

Moore says her top priorities include working with county commissioners to find a budget that works for the fast growing school district.

She also wants to address the diverse student population that includes a growing 160-thousand students.

It's also a major milestone for the district, Moore is Wake's first woman and Latina superintendent.

 “I am the first in my family to graduate college and I come from a background where I came to the United States as a very young child,” said Moore “I was two years old. My mother has a primary school education and she came here with her children for the American dream and I feel like I've had the opportunity to achieve that.”​

The school district searched for six months to find the Jim Merrill's replacement, who announced his retirement as superintendent in November.