FORT MILL TOWNSHIP Fort Mill Middle School Principal Tommy Schmolze is leaving his position to become the principal of Clover High School.

Schmolze has been the principal at Fort Mill Middle for three years.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Schmolze said. “I’m looking forward to joining the staff and working with them.”

Dr. Keith Callicutt, superintendent of the Fort Mill School District, said "we're extremely said to lose a person of Tommy's quality, but personally, extremely happy for him about the opportunity he has."

Callicutt said becoming a high school principal was one of Schmolze's career goals.

"Clover is a wonderful district and a wonderful town and we're confident Tommy will do a good job for them," he said.

Fort Mill will soon begin advertising the open position at Fort Mill Middle and form a search committee to find a replacement, Callicutt said.

Schmolze will replace Ron Wright, who is moving up to an assistant superintendent position in the Clover district, on July 1, according to a district press release.

“We are extremely confident that Tommy Schmolze will continue the great work of his predecessor, Mr. Wright, and take Clover High School to the next level of excellence,” Marc Sosne, Clover Superintendent, said in the release.

Schmolze has a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education from Clemson, a Masters in School Administration and Supervision from Winthrop University and a Doctorate of Education from Nova Southeastern University.

He taught English at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill from 1993 until he was named assistant principal of Fort Mill Middle School in 1999. In 2005, he became principal of the school.

“We are excited to have a young man of his caliber,” Sosne said. “He has a proven track record of leadership and comes to us with outstanding references.”

Fort Mill Times Editor Michael Harrison contributed to this story