The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees rotated three administrators between jobs and announced the hire of a new high school assistant principal Thursday, continuing staff shake-ups begun last month.
Henderson Ward Stewart Assistant Principal Gabrielle Mills will now lead West Elementary, as its principal, Andrea Smith, transitions into her new role as the district’s director of assessment and intervention.
The district’s former assessment and intervention specialist, Julie Fancher, will move to Henderson Ward Stewart and serve as the elementary school’s assistant principal.
“Smith, Mills and Fancher are experienced educators who share an understanding of the importance of curriculum, instruction and assessment, and how those key areas work together to maximize student achievement,” said SOCSD Superintendent Eddie Peasant in a release. “Their knowledge and expertise across multiple levels add to the strength of our leadership team.”
The district also hired Gregory Stephens, who most recently worked as Leake Central High School’s (Carthage) assistant principal, to serve as a Starkville High School assistant principal.
Stephens has served as either an assistant principal or principal since 2004, which includes a four-year stint at West Lowndes High School.
He earned his doctorate from Mississippi State University in 2007.
“Dr. Stephens brings 13 years of administrative experience to the high school, and we’re excited to welcome him to the Jacket nation,” said SHS Principal Sean McDonnall in the release.
Salary information for Stephens was not immediately available Thursday.
Last month, trustees moved Armstrong Middle School Principal Timothy Bourne to Overstreet School and replaced him with Overstreet Principal Julie Kennedy.
The move, trustees said, was made ahead of the SOCSD-MSU partnership school opening in 2019, as Kennedy is expected to lead the grades 6-7 campus.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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