By Richard Sullins | richard@rantnc.com
Two vacant principal positions created in June by promotions were filled Tuesday by the Lee County Board of Education, along with other administrative changes that were announced after the meeting.
Kelly Bancroft was appointed as the principal of East Lee Middle School, replacing Robert Newby, who was named last month as the new principal of Lee County High School. Emily Coggins will move from her position as assistant principal at B.T. Bullock Elementary to a new role as principal at Deep River Elementary, replacing Amy Lundy, who became principal at Southern Lee High School on July 1.
Bancroft comes to Lee County from Harnett County Schools, where she most recently served as assistant principal of Western Harnett Middle School. Her leadership there has been a key component of the school’s consistent growth and success, and during her time in Harnett County, Bancroft focused on fostering a positive learning environment and driving student achievement.
In making the announcement of Bancroft’s appointment, Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Dossenbach said “we are thrilled to welcome Kelly to Lee County Schools as the next principal of East Lee. Her extensive experience, dedication to student success, and strong leadership skills make her an excellent fit for East Lee.”
Coggins’ appointment as principal at Deep River Elementary returns her to the school where she spent many years as a classroom teacher. A long-time educator in the Lee County Schools district, Coggins brings years of experience and a singular insight into the school’s culture and ideals. Dossenbach said those qualities uniquely qualified her for this new role.
“Emily’s love and dedication to the Deep River students, staff, and community are truly inspiring,” he said. “Her deep-rooted connection to the school has equipped her with invaluable insights, enabling her to quickly contribute to the high expectations that consistently drive Deep River to achieve excellence.”
Administrative changes
Dossenbach also announced changes in three district positions after Tuesday’s meeting.
Rachel Hurt has been named the Director of Exceptional Children. Hurt has been with the district since 2022 and served as Exceptional Children Compliance Specialist. With over 18 years of experience working with exceptional children in both Oklahoma and North Carolina, she brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the role.
Angel Mills was named the Director of Multilingual Education and Support. Previously, she served as the Director of English as a Second Language and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. In her expanded role, Mills will serve the district’s growing population of multi-lingual families and provide support for Migrant Education, World Languages, and Dual Language Immersion programs.
Dr. Sharron Williams has been named the Director of Student Interventions and Success. Williams, who previously served as the district’s At-Risk Coordinator, will oversee Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and develop, implement, and evaluate intervention processes and procedures for at-risk students throughout the district.
In addition to these appointments, changes were also made to a number of assistant principal roles across the district, all a part of the superintendent’s ongoing efforts to build administrative leadership teams that will ensure a high quality of support for students, teachers, staff, and other stakeholders.
Each of the changes announced on Tuesday evening are effective immediately.