RALEIGH - Terri Cobb, chief of staff of the Wake County Public School System and a former Lockhart Elementary principal, has been named the new superintendent of Pender County Schools.

The Pender County Board of Education announced the appointment Tuesday night.

Cobb, who led Lockhart from 1999 to 2003, begins her new role on January 2, 2012.

While Cobb has no connections to Pender County, she said in an interview last week that she feels “well matched” with the coastal county’s current school board.

“We share the passion of emphasizing a quality education for every child, while making sure we’re well connected to the community,” she said.

Cobb was a Wake County Principal of the Year finalist during her time at Lockhart. She joined Central Services as senior director of staff development in 2003, and became chief of staff in 2006.

“Terri has made great contributions to Wake County,” said Superintendent Tony Tata. “We are very proud of her. She has been a tremendous principal and chief of staff and will make a superb superintendent.”

The job as Superintendent of Pender County schools was not the first position outside of Wake County Cobb sought, she said. But it was “the one that most interested” Cobb and the job she pursued the most, she said.

“I’m truly, very excited to get started there,” Cobb said. “But I’ll miss the people here (in Wake County) so much. I have so many treasured relationships here and that won’t change.”

Tata said Wake County will “miss Terri’s professionalism and keen focus on student achievement.”

“Pender County has made an excellent selection,” he said.