Shanti Hinkle is from Detroit, Michigan, but is a product of Gaston County Schools, graduating from Ashbrook High School. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in English from UNC-Greensboro in 2009. In 2011, she completed a master’s degree in Elementary Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University while beginning her career with Gaston County Schools at Lingerfeldt Elementary School. Ms. Hinkle acquired her master’s degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2022 while teaching sixth-grade math at Cramerton Middle School. Ms. Hinkle is pursuing a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Gardner-Webb University.

Being a mother of a son, an avid traveler, and an educational creator are intricate parts of her life. She enjoys doing high-intensity workouts, nature walks, and creating memories with her family.

Ms. Hinkle joined us as Assistant Principal at Belmont Middle School in 2024. She is extremely excited to spread kindness and build lasting relationships with the Belmont community and Wildcat family. 

Dr. Logan McGuire was born in Atlanta, Georgia, grew up in Sylva, North Carolina, and attended college in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After graduating from college in 2000, he lived in Colorado for four years, where he taught general music, band, and chorus at the elementary and middle-school levels. Dr. McGuire returned to North Carolina in 2004 and taught elementary music in Lincoln County for three years before joining the Gaston County Schools family in 2007 as an assistant principal at Cramerton Middle School. Following his three years at Cramerton, he served as the assistant principal of Carr Elementary School for six years, and as the principal of Brookside Elementary School for two years, and Bessemer City Middle School for seven years, before joining Belmont Middle School in 2025.

Dr. McGuire has a passion for helping students choose success, and for helping educators inspire and encourage lifelong learning among their students. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University, as well as Master of School Administration, Educational Specialist, and Doctor of Education degrees from Appalachian State University. In 2015, Dr. McGuire was a finalist for Gaston County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year. He has been chosen for membership in Appalachian State University’s Cratis D. Williams Society of Outstanding Graduates twice, in 2016 and in 2024. Dr. McGuire is a graduate of the Future Ready Leadership program conducted by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association. He has been recognized by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow, and he is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. Though Dr. McGuire loves his career as a school administrator, he has been passionate about music since childhood; he continues this passion in his role as a director of music at Myers Memorial United Methodist Church in Gastonia, and as a member of the French horn section in the Gaston Symphonic Band.

Dr. McGuire and his family live in Gastonia. His wife is the music teacher at Carr Elementary School. They have three adult children: one son and two daughters. Their son is an audiovisual technician in Charlotte, their older daughter is an elementary music teacher in Lincoln County, and their younger daughter is an instructional assistant at the Gaston Virtual Academy. When he is not working, Dr. McGuire enjoys spending time with his family, playing the guitar and singing, reading, hiking, visiting the mountains, and watching sports—especially Atlanta Braves baseball.