Buncombe County Schools announces new principals, administrators for 2022-23
The Buncombe County Schools Board of Education on June 2 approved 20 new administrative assignments for the 2022-23 school year, including 17 principals, two directors and one specialist position.
Several principals announced their retirement this year, opening up positions for new principals and vice-principals. All new assignments will be effective July 1.
“These assignments were approved by Board members at Thursday’s Regular Board of Education Meeting,” Tony Baldwin, superintendent of Buncombe County Schools, said in a press release. “Friday morning, senior leadership announced each new principal’s appointment to their respective faculty and staff.”
New principals
Ben Alexander is the new principal of Reynolds High School. He’s currently the principal at Valley Springs Middle School, and has worked as an assistant principal at Cane Creek Middle School and Enka High School. Alexander received his master's in school administration from Appalachian State University in 2018.
Michael Benigno is the new principal of Black Mountain Elementary. He has been the assistant principal at North Windy Ridge Intermediate School for the past eight years. Beningo was previously the principal at Oakley Elementary School as well as the assistant principal at Valley Springs Middle School, Candler Elementary School and Haw Creek Elementary School.
Andrea Britt is the new principal of Cane Creek Middle School. She’s currently the assistant principal at Erwin Middle School. Before that, Britt worked as a teacher at Reynolds Middle School for 7 years.
Julia Hodges is the new principal at Eblen Intermediate School. She’s currently the assistant principal at Enka Intermediate School. Hodges was a teacher at Erwin Middle School for six years before going to Enka Intermediate.
Emily Cox is the new principal at Enka Intermediate School. She’s currently the assistant principal at Enka Middle School. Cox was previously the assistant principal at Clyde Elementary School and Pisgah High School.
Travis Collins is the new principal at Erwin Middle School. He’s currently the principal at Enka Intermediate School. Collins has also been a principal at Meadowbrook Elementary School, Canton Middle School and Tuscola High School.
Jay Dale is the new principal at Estes Elementary. He’s currently the principal at Haw Creek Elementary. Dale also worked as a principal at Pisgah Elementary School and assistant principal at WD Williams Elementary School.
Jamie Slagle is the new principal at Glen Arden Elementary. She’s currently the assistant principal at Fairview Elementary. Slagle previously worked as the elementary & intermediate Ccurriculum Ccoach for Buncombe County Schools.
April Wright is the new principal at Haw Creek Elementary. She has been the principal at Woodfin Elementary for the past four years. Wright was previously the assistant principal at Candler Elementary School.
Heidi Allison is the new principal at North Buncombe Elementary. She’s currently the principal at Weaverville Elementary. Allison has also been a principal at Barnardsville Elementary School and assistant principal at Hominy Valley Elementary School and Haw Creek Elementary School.
Kevin Yontz is the new principal at North Buncombe High School. He’s been the assistant principal at North Buncombe Middle School for the past three years. Before that, Yontz was the assistant principal at Reynolds High School.
Samantha Sircey is the new principal at Owen High School. She’s currently the principal at North Buncombe High School. Sircey has also been the principal at North Buncombe Middle School and assistant principal at North Buncombe High School and Owen High School.
Bradley McMahan is the new principal at Owen Middle School. He’s currently the assistant principal at Owen High School. Before that, McMahan was a teacher at Valley Springs Middle School for four years.
Will Thrasher is the new principal at Valley Springs Middle after being the assistant principal there for the past three years. Thrasher has previously been the assistant principal and career development coordinator for Nesbitt Discovery Academy.
Mary Nichols is the new principal at Weaverville Elementary. She’s currently the principal at Claxton Elementary (Asheville City Schools), after having been the assistant principal there for four years.
Brad Johnson is the new principal at West Buncombe Elementary. He’s currently the principal at Isaac Dixon Elementary (Asheville City Schools), after having been the assistant principal there for four years.
Nicole Roberts is the new principal at Woodfin Elementary. She is currently the principal at Black Mountain Elementary. Roberts has also been an assistant principal for 15 years, having worked at Emma Elementary School, Hominy Valley Elementary School, Black Mountain Primary School and North Windy Ridge Intermediate School.
New directors
Dr. Shane Cassida, currently the special population specialist for BCS, is now the new director of student services.
Jeremy Stowe is the new director of transportation and community outreach. Stowe is currently the principal at Joe. P. Eblen Intermediate School.
New specialist
Jim Lewis is taking Cassida’s old role as the new special populations specialist for the district. Lewis is currently the principal at Owen Middle School.
Retirees
Nine principals and administrators will be retiring or changing careers at the end of the school year:
David Rhoney, director of transportation
David Thompson, director of student services
Doris Sellers, A.C. Reynolds High School
Steve Molinari, Erwin Middle School
Kristina Specht, Glen Arden Elementary
Debbie Devane, North Buncombe Elementary
Brian Chandler, West Buncombe Elementary
Paula Pinkerton, Estes Elementary
Meg Turner, Owen High School
Ryley Ober is a news intern with the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at ROber@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New Buncombe County Schools principals, administrators for 2022-23
