Goldsboro – This past week, the Wayne County Board of Education approved two principal changes and an administrative change during its monthly meeting. One principal change, impacting Eastern Wayne Middle, took effect December 3rd.
WCPS Elementary & Middle School Instructional Coach and former principal, Dr. Tammy Keel, was named principal at Eastern Wayne Middle. She is replacing Dexter Evans who resigned, effective December 2. Dr. Keel has served in education since 1999. She has over 14 years of school administration and district level support experience, with seven years spent as principal at Mount Olive Middle. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Mount Olive since 2018. Dr. Keel was named the WCPS Principal of the Year in 2014. Dr. Keel holds an associate’s degree in business administration, a bachelor’s degree in management & organizational development, a master’s degree in school administration, and a doctorate’s degree in leadership in educational administration.
“I truly welcome the challenge and privilege of this new role,” states Dr. Keel. “Eastern Wayne Middle has some amazing students and an outstanding staff. It is truly a great school and our focus remains steadfast on teaching, learning, and most importantly student success.”
The following principal and district administration changes will take effect January 1, 2020:
Brogden Primary principal, Youlonda Wynn, will be the new assistant director for the WCPS Federal Programs department. Mrs. Wynn is a Wayne County native, but began her education career in 1997 at E.K. Poe Elementary in Durham, North Carolina, as a fifth grade teacher. In 1998, she returned home to Wayne County, where she served as a second grade teacher at North Drive Elementary. She later worked as a teacher at Northeast Elementary and then in 2006 transitioned to school administration as an assistant principal at Grantham School. She was named principal of Brogden Primary in 2010. Mrs. Wynn was both a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and North Carolina Principals Fellow. In 2017, she was named the WCPS Principal of the Year. Mrs. Wynn holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in school administration.
Grantham Elementary principal, Nicole Barrett, will be the new principal for Brogden Primary. She is replacing Youlonda Wynn, who will be the new WCPS Federal Programs Assistant Director. Mrs. Barrett has over 23 years of education experience and served in her present role since 2018. Ms. Barrett began her career in education in 1996 as a third grade teacher at North Drive Elementary. In 2006, she became the curriculum facilitator at Goldsboro Intermediate School and transitioned to administration as the assistant principal at the school the following year. In 2008, she was named the assistant principal at Spring Creek Elementary. In 2015, she was named principal, where she served until 2018. Ms. Barrett holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education and K-12 leadership.
“These school administrators have the experience and skills needed to make a smooth transition into their new roles,” states Dr. Dunsmore. “My administrative cabinet will provide the principals and their staff the necessary supports to assist with the mid-year change and to help their school successfully build on their established successes moving forward.”
The district administration hopes to name a new principal at Grantham Elementary prior to the holiday break.
