Paul Shaw is resigning as superintendent of White County Schools, effective Sept. 2. He has accepted a job offer from Piedmont College in Demorest.

"I'll teach some courses and work with undergraduate education majors," Shaw said. "We've been talking off and on for about a year on this. I got officially offered the job about a week ago and decided to take it."

Shaw, 62, has been superintendent since 2000.

He announced the resignation in a short video that was sent Thursday evening to school system employees.

"I've enjoyed working with such a committed and caring school board and such wonderful employees this last 11 years," Shaw said in the video. "I will always have a place in my heard for White County, and I truly value and treasure my 11 years in White County."

He said county employees were probably surprised at the announcement.

"The time was just right," Shaw said.

Shaw came to White County from the York School District in South Carolina. He was named superintendent of the year in 2010 by the Georgia School Superintendents Association. He currently serves on Gov. Nathan Deal's Education Advisory Board.

During his tenure, White County schools were named No. 1 in the country for computer technology in medium-sized school districts in the Digital School Board Survey. The system also started a laptop initiative for teachers.

The system's graduation rate rose to 94 percent under Shaw's leadership.

Shaw oversaw the successful passage of two special purpose local option sales tax votes, in 2001 and 2006, and he helped develop a long-range building and property acquisition program.

He helped form a partnership with the White County Board of Commissioners an the White County Recreation Department for joint use of facilities.

Shaw said the school board will post his job sometime next week.

"I like the opportunity that I'll be at a higher education system," he said. "I plan to be here until Sept. 2 to get the school year started."