MARTINSVILLE, VA – Superintendent of Martinsville City Schools Dr. Zebedee Talley Jr. has been named the Secretary-Treasurer of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, which represents 135 school districts across the commonwealth.
In addition, Talley will serve as Vice-Chair of Region 06 Superintendents.
He joined the Martinsville City Public Schools in 1978 after being hired by the late Martinsville Vice-Mayor Clyde Williams.
Talley is a 1974 graduate of George Washington High School in Danville.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and social science from Elon University with significant course work in religion.
He received his Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Radford University in 1994 and was named Student of the Year.
In 2009, Tally graduated from Virginia Tech University with a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership.
The superintendent served as a history teacher, gifted teacher, and U.S. Government teacher at Martinsville High School for 15 years.
In addition, he coached track, cross country, basketball, and founded the Martinsville High School Gospel Choir.
Talley later served as Vice-Principal at Martinsville High School and Martinsville Middle School and also served as Co-Principal at the middle school.
Later, he served as principal of Patrick Henry Elementary School.
Talley was the recipient of The Teacher of the Year Award at Martinsville High School in 1990, the NAACP Clyde Williams Award, and several Piedmont District Coach of the Year Awards.
He was the recipient of the Samuel S. Trott Educational Award presented by the NAACP in 2017.
He was named Omega Citizen of the year in 2017.
Dr. Talley serves as a member of the United Way Executive Board, University of Virginia Superintendents’ Advisory Committee and Planning Committee, AASA National Superintendents Association, Virginia Association of School Superintendents, Piedmont Arts Advisory Board, and AVID National Superintendents Executive Board.
In addition, he pastored the United Holiness Worship Center Church in Pelham, North Carolina for the past 36 years while serving in the ministry for over 45 years.
All of his 43-year teaching experience has been with city schools.