HAMLET — Rockingham Middle School assistant principal Steve Wood has accepted a full principalship at John A. Holmes High School in Edenton. His first day on the job is July 20.
“I’ve told anybody that would listen that I would take a job at the beach the first chance I could,” Wood said. “Edenton isn’t right at the beach, but it is on the beautiful Albemarle Sound near the Outer Banks. When the position opened up I took a shot, and I got it.”
Wood is a former Richmond Senior High School assistant football coach who served under former Raiders head coach Paul Hoggard — who who resigned from RSHS in late March and is now head coach at John A. Holmes.
Wood said he’s loved every minute of his eight years in Richmond County Schools, and now that his two daughters are grown and finished with college and living in Pinehurst, he and his wife Carolyn — retired from Scotland County Schools — can enjoy some waterfront relaxation together.
“Driving into the downtown area, it is calming,” Wood said. “So peaceful. It almost reminds me of looking at a movie set from the 1960s.”
Wood spoke with the Daily Journal via phone from Edenton late Wednesday confirming his resignation and upcoming move, but said he would return to Richmond County today to attend the funeral of a dear family friend.
“He was about 18 years younger than my father,” Wood said. “A member of my church, and he was really like a second father to me. It felt like the right thing to do, to come back. My new superintendent felt it was right.”
When he returns to Edenton, Wood said he’s got about three teaching jobs he needs to fill.
“I was just in a master schedule meeting today with several of the teachers and staff members,” Wood said. “It was very nice. I look forward to learning how they do things education-wise here in Edenton, and I’ll put my thumbprint on it and get it rolling.”
As of Wednesday, Richmond County Schools had 31 vacant positions posted on its district website and its latest personnel report is full of transfers, resignations and a few new hires.
Richmond Senior High School assistant principal Tonjua Chapman will transfer to Fairview Heights Elementary and Washington Street Elementary assistant principal Karen Allen will transfer to Richmond Senior, Richmond County Schools human resources director Julian Carter said in the report.
NEW TEACHERS
Newly hired certified employees are:
• Jillian Kline, Cordova School exceptional children’s teacher
• Jennifer Dumas, East Rockingham birth through kindergarten teacher
•Laurel Blake, Hamlet Middle math teacher
• Jessica Lowery, L.J. Bell Elementary teacher
• Andy Shuler, Ninth-Grade Academy PE teacher
• Mary Long, Richmond Senior High math teacher
• Brendan Snell, Rockingham Middle social studies teacher
• Natalie Grimm, West Rockingham Elementary teacher
• Alison Magliula, East Rockingham Elementary teacher
• Sydney Viers, L.J. Bell Elementary teacher
• Andrae Jacobs, Richmond Senior High career and technical education teacher (lateral entry)
• Matthew Wexler, Rohanen Middle English language arts teacher
Lateral-entry teachers recommended for rehire for the 2015-16 school year are Tate Deal, Shannon Townsend and Stephanie DePrizio.
Ashleigh Buie will serve as technology facilitator at a school to be determined at a later date.
RESIGNATIONS
Teachers who have resigned are:
• Samantha Myers, Fairview Heights Elementary teacher
• Carolyn Will, Fairview Heights Elementary teacher
• Michelle Griffin, Mineral Springs lead academic teacher
• Elizabeth Hunsucker, Richmond Senior High exceptional children’s teacher
• Michael James, Richmond Senior High PE teacher
• Rebecca Law, Richmond Senior High math teacher
• Mackenzie Shafer, Richmond Senior High biology teacher
• Ismael Gomez, Rohanen Middle math teacher
• Julie Cencer, Richmond Senior High English teacher
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @meloniemclaurin.