Administrative appointments and transfers

Administrative leadership appointments and transfers for 2025-2026
 
Gaston County Schools announces the following administrative leadership changes (appointments/transfers for principals, assistant principals, and central office) for the 2025-2026 academic year.  

Principal Appointments
▪ Kathleen D’Avria was appointed to serve as the principal at Southwest Middle School.  She previously served as the director of secondary instruction for Gaston County Schools.

▪ Stephanie Gust was appointed to serve as the principal at North Belmont Elementary School.  She previously served as the interim principal at Lingerfeldt Elementary School and as the principal at River Oaks Academy in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

▪ Sierra Jennings was appointed to serve as the principal at Brookside Elementary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Belmont Middle School.

▪ Jennifer Lancaster was appointed to serve as the principal at Kiser Elementary School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Ashbrook High School.

▪ Natalie LaRusch was appointed to serve as the principal at Rankin Elementary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Villa Heights Elementary School in Charlotte. 

▪ Meghan LeFevers was appointed to serve as the principal at Warlick Academy.  She previously served as the 504 coordinator in student support services for Gaston County Schools.

▪ Tonya Morris was appointed to serve as the principal at Robinson Elementary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Parkside Elementary School in Charlotte.

▪ Lauren Stefaniak was appointed to serve as the principal at Carr Elementary School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte.

Principal Transfers
▪ Mitch Allen was transferred to serve as the principal at Cherryville High School.  He previously served as the principal at Chapel Grove Elementary School.

▪ Justin Beam was transferred to serve as the principal at Sherwood Elementary School.  He previously served as the principal at North Belmont Elementary School.

▪ Staci Bradley was transferred to serve as the principal at York Chester Middle School.  She previously served as the principal at Catawba Heights Elementary School.

▪ Lorinda Brusie was transferred to serve as the principal at Costner Elementary School.  She previously served as the principal at Kiser Elementary School.

▪ Jenny Cabe was transferred to serve as the principal at Lingerfeldt Elementary School.  She previously served as the principal at York Chester Middle School.

▪ NaKishia Glenn was transferred to serve as the principal at Catawba Heights Elementary School.  She previously served as the principal at Tryon Elementary School.

▪ Kristie Gornto was transferred to serve as the principal at John Chavis Middle School.  She previously served as the principal at Sherwood Elementary School.

▪ Miriam Harvey was transferred to serve as the principal at Chapel Grove Elementary School.  She previously served as the principal at John Chavis Middle School.

▪ Shawn Hubers was transferred to serve as the principal at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School.  He previously served as the principal at Cherryville High School.

▪ Melissa Knick was transferred to serve as the principal at Tryon Elementary School.  She previously served as the principal at Southwest Middle School.

▪ Jaime Wallace was transferred to serve as the principal at Woodhill Elementary School.  She previously served as the principal at Brookside Elementary School.

▪ William Winston was transferred to serve as the principal at Holbrook Middle School.  He previously served as the principal at Robinson Elementary School.

Assistant Principal Appointments
▪ Holly Adams was appointed to serve as the assistant principal at Webb Street School.  She previously served as the dean of students at Metro School in Charlotte.

▪ Nikki Akins was appointed to serve as an assistant principal at East Gaston High School.  She previously served as a Principal Fellows intern at East Gaston High School.

▪ Rachel Brown was appointed to serve as an assistant principal at South Point High School.  She previously served as a dean of students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and as an English teacher at Hunter Huss High School. 

▪ Whitney Hill was appointed to serve as the assistant principal at Woodhill Elementary School.  She previously served as the dean of students at Hunter Huss High School.

▪ Sydney McDaniel was appointed to serve as an assistant principal at Stuart W. Cramer High School.  She previously served as the media specialist at Hunter Huss High School.  

▪ Monica Sherer was appointed to serve as the assistant principal at Lingerfeldt Elementary School.  She previously served as the dean of students at York Chester Middle School.

▪ Leah Somers was appointed to serve as the assistant principal at H.H. Beam Elementary School.  She previously served as a Principal Fellows intern at Bessemer City Primary School.

Assistant Principal Transfers
▪ Antina Avery was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Ashbrook High School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Southwest Middle School.

▪ Brittany Beckham was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Southwest Middle School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Stuart W. Cramer High School.

▪ Kelly Brown was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Stuart W. Cramer High School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at South Point High School.

▪ Katie Cochran was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Sherwood Elementary School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Holbrook Middle School.

▪ Stephanie Crump was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Holbrook Middle School. She previously served as an assistant principal at Southwest Middle School.

▪ Carole Hamblin was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Bessemer City Middle School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Hunter Huss High School.

▪ Kristin Haskett was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at New Hope Elementary School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Bessemer City Middle School.

▪ Michael Hewitt was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School.  He previously served as an assistant principal at Cramerton Middle School.

▪ Luci Huffstetler was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Bessemer City High School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at East Gaston High School.

▪ James Hilburn was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at John Chavis Middle School.  He previously served as an assistant principal at Forestview High School.

▪ Gina Hille was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Carr Elementary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Chapel Grove Elementary School.

▪ Tangela Hinton was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Bessemer City Primary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Sherwood Elementary School.

▪ Shanika Mack was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Hunter Huss High School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School.
  
▪ Logan McGuire was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Belmont Middle School.  He previously served as an assistant principal at Bessemer City Middle School.

▪ Angie Molla was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Bessemer City Central Elementary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Lingerfeldt Elementary School.

▪ Phillip Morris was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Southwest Middle School.  He previously served as an assistant principal at Stuart W. Cramer High School.

▪ Tim Reed was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Warlick Academy.  He previously served as the assistant principal at H.H. Beam Elementary School.

▪ Wanda Reid was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Cramerton Middle School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at W.P. Grier Middle School.

▪ Alecia Roberts was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Bessemer City High School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Ashbrook High School. 

▪ Nala Sadler-Sherrill was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at East Gaston High School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Woodhill Elementary School.

▪ Ryan Smith was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Forestview High School.  He previously served as an assistant principal at East Gaston High School.

▪ Meghann Sneed was transferred to serve as an assistant principal at Ashbrook High School.  She previously served as an assistant principal at Bessemer City High School.

▪ Kathi Withers was transferred to serve as the assistant principal at Chapel Grove Elementary School.  She previously served as the assistant principal at Kiser Elementary School.

Central Office Appointments
▪ Jonnecia Alford was appointed to serve as the director of advanced teaching roles and instructional coaching.  She previously served as a learning and development associate for CT3 Education.

▪ Shannon Hullett was appointed to serve as the director of K-12 curriculum.  She previously served as the director of elementary instruction for Gaston County Schools. 

▪ Tom Nencetti was appointed to serve as the chief of staff.  He previously served as the director of planning and special projects for Gaston County Schools.