Five PSRC schools to get new principals this coming academic year

Jun. 18—LUMBERTON — Five Public Schools of Robeson County campuses will welcome new faces of leadership as new principals assume their posts next school year, and two former principals retire.

The Public Schools of Robeson County's Board of Education approved certified/classified personnel agenda item during its Tuesday meeting. Terry Locklear cast the lone no vote on the item.

As a result of the personnel item vote, the newly created position at Shining Stars Preschool and the St. Pauls Elementary principal position, left vacant by the retiring of Jill Hathaway, were filled, said Gordon Burnette, PSRC chief communications officer.

As PSRC's principals applied for positions and were chosen, their former schools also received new leaders.

"The principal vacancy at St. Pauls Elementary School and the newly created principal position at Shining Stars generated a lot of interest from talented educators. Principals were moved due to them being the top candidate for the position in the search process," Burnette said.

Principals were picked from qualified candidates interviewed from within PSRC and beyond, Burnette said.

Shining Stars Preschool will welcome Shawn Feeko as its new principal in the coming school year. Feeko's former position at Tanglewood Elementary will be filled by Joyce Brown, who served as assistant principal at Lumberton Senior High School.

Feeko has formerly served as principal at Rowland Norment Elementary School and assistant principal at Lumberton and Red Springs high schools. She has served in the school system since 2006 in leadership and teaching roles. Brown has served as an assistant principal at Lumberton High School and Littlefield Middle School, and first joined PSRC in 2008.

David Oxendine will take on the principal position at Long Branch Elementary, as its former principal, Amanda Tyner, moves into her new role at St. Pauls Elementary School.

Oxendine formerly served as an assistant principal at Pembroke Middle School and LHS. Tyner previously served as a PSRC curriculum specialist and as an assistant principal at Parkton Elementary, before serving as principal at Long Branch Elementary for five years.

Karen Brooks-Floyd will serve as the new principal at St. Pauls Middle School, replacing former principal Paul Locklear. Brooks-Floyd's contract as assistant superintendent for Administration, Community Engagement and Auxiliary Services was not mentioned in the contract renewal vote taken by PSRC School Board members in the May 11 meeting.

Her contract, which ends June 30, was not renewed, according to PSRC School Board Chairman Craig Lowry.

Bobby Locklear, executive director of Testing and Accountability, was named assistant superintendent for Auxiliary Services during the meeting and will serve in the role after Brooks-Floyd's contract expires. Brooks-Floyd previously served as principal of W.H. Knuckles Elementary and Red Springs Middle schools, according to school officials.

"The Public Schools of Robeson County is pleased that our Board of Education approved our recommendation for five principal transitions in the district. These individuals all have extensive administrative experience in our school district," Burnette said.

"Every one of these leaders is committed to providing the best education possible to the students of Robeson County. That commitment to our students is something that will make the transition to their respective schools a seamless process," he added.

As new principals prepare to take the reigns of the schools, former educators like Jill Hathaway and Darlene Cummings, who served as executive director of PSRC's Curriculum and Instruction, are transitioning into retirement.

Rowland Norment Elementary Principal Tara Bullard said her time as an assistant principal working with Hathaway helped mold her into the administrator she is today.

"I spent three years with Dr. Hathaway as an assistant principal at Piney Grove Elementary. She really modeled what it meant to always make decisions based on what was best for students," Bullard said in a statement.

"Dr. Hathaway knew how to bring out the best in her staff. She was always their biggest cheerleader ... I am excited for Dr. Hathaway and this new chapter in her life. I know she will be greatly missed, but I am praying that she will consider providing some much needed mentoring for new principals in the years ahead," Bullard said in a statement.

During her 32 years in the school system, Cummings served as principal at Fairmont and Pembroke middle schools, Union Elementary School and Lumberton Junior High School. She also served as assistant principal at Lumberton Junior High School and as an educator at Fairmont High School and in the Indian Education Alternative Program.

"She was a fighter for curriculum, instruction and accountability, principals, teachers, instructional assistants, support staff, child nutrition, custodians, office staff, bus drivers, parents, communities, and most of all she was a warrior for students receiving the best education possible," said Robert Locklear, assistant superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability.

"PSRC will be forever grateful for her inspiring motivation, shared insights and gentle guidance," Locklear added.

PSRC administrators wish Hathaway and Cummings well on their new journeys.

"The Public Schools of Robeson County would like to congratulate Dr. Darlene Cummings and Dr. Jill Hathaway on their upcoming retirements. Dr. Cummings and Dr. Hathaway have spent decades educating Robeson County students and have also been mentors for many of our administrators and teachers within the district," Burnette said.

"Dr. Cummings and Dr. Hathaway are amazing educators, but they are even better people. The Public Schools of Robeson County will miss Dr. Cummings and Dr. Hathaway, but we know that their presence will be felt throughout the district for years to come in the many lives they have forever changed through the power of education," he added.

Reach Jessica Horne at 910-416-5165 or via email at [email protected] Gordon Burnette contributed to this report.