Which Lexington middle school principal is moving to another school?

Eric Thornsbury has been hired as the next principal of Lexington’s Winburn Middle School, after serving as principal of Tates Creek Middle School for 12 years.

At Tates Creek Middle, district officials said, Thornsbury spearheaded the implementation of Kentucky’s first International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and launched comprehensive reform initiatives to increase student achievement.

Thornsbury will start the job at Winburn on July 1.

He replaces principal Gregory Michael Hale who had been suspended since April 2023 and resigned in February 2024.

Thornsbury began his career with Fayette County Public Schools in 2002 as a special education and social studies teacher at Tates Creek Middle before becoming dean of students at Lexington Traditional Magnet School in 2007.

At the magnet school, he was also athletics director and special education chair. In 2008 he returned to Tates Creek as an associate principal before becoming principal in 2012.

“Eric’s leadership is inclusive and student-focused. He is a passionate educator dedicated to innovative instruction, inclusive family engagement and designing safe and supportive learning environments,” Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said in a news release.

“His experience and passion for increasing student outcomes will positively impact all students, staff and families at Winburn Middle School.”

Thornsbury has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in instructional leadership from Eastern Kentucky University.

Hale’s resignation is effective June 11. District and state officials have never said or released documents to the Herald-Leader under the Kentucky Open Records Act to show why he was suspended.

Assistant Principal BJ Martin has been serving as acting principal in the interim.