Sampson County Schools is regrouping for the 2013-14 school year with superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker recommending several changes in leadership, a move that will see all the system’s high schools with new principals.
The retirement of Midway High School principal Stuart Daughtery, who is leaving at the end of this school year with 18 total years of principal experience under his belt, has been a important factor in the major shuffle.
His retirement left one principal vacancy which, when filled, began the Domino effect.
If approved by the Sampson County Board of Education, presumably at its meeting Monday night, the principal moves at Union, Lakewood, Midway and Union will become effective starting July 1.
Among those taking principal helms is Julie Hunter, the school’s current assistant principal.
Hunter, the AP for the past two years now, is set to become the school’s new principal.
“I’m looking forward to it and the challenges that we face in education today,” said Hunter about her new post, adding that she hopes to be an encouragement to all of Union High’s teachers and staff and is excited about them working together to make the school the best it can be.
When Hunter takes over the reins at the school, current Union High principal Ed Holmes will move to Roseboro to head up the school system’s Alternative Learning Program. Holmes has been principal at Union High for three years, and before that also served as a principal and assistant principal in Johnston County.
Lakewood High School will also be impacted by the shuffle of principals. Current Hobbton Middle School principal Kevin Hunter, who has 10 years of experience as a principal, will move to Leopard country as the leader of that high school.
Current Lakewood principal Monty Strickland, who has been principal at there for a year, will move to Midway High, filling the vacancy left by Daughtery. Strickland was previously an assistant principal for one year at Roseboro-Salemburg and for four years at Lakewood.
Midway High’s assistant principal Jeff Bradshaw will also be leaving the school to become the principal at Hobbton Middle School, filling the vacancy left by Kevin Hunter’s move. Bradshaw was an assistant principal for a total of five years, with two years spent at Union High and three years spent at Midway High.
Like the middle school, Hobbton High School will also receive a new principal. Current Hargrove Elementary School principal Jennifer Daughtry, who has been at the school for four years, will take over leadership at Hobbton High.
“I’m very excited about the new change and am looking forward to working with Hobbton High School again,” said Daughtry, who was assistant principal there for three years before becoming principal at Hargrove. “It’s bittersweet because you get so attached, but it’s kind of like I’m going back home in a way. I think it will be a good transition.”
Shajuana Sellers, who has been coordinator of the Alternative Learning Program for the past year, will move to Hargrove, replacing Jennifer Daughtry as principal.
“I’m very happy to work with Sampson County Schools and am delighted at the opportunity to continue to be a great leader with them,” said Sellers, who has previously spent two years at both Roseboro-Salemburg Middle School and Hobbton Middle School as an assistant principal.
“Our school system lost a principal to retirement at one of our high schools. We have successful principals ready to take on new challenges which created a domino effect in our schools,” said superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker of the recommended leadership changes. “We know the quality of these educators and expect great things from them in the future.”
Lauren Williams can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 117 or via email at lwilliams@civitasmedia.com.
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