The Wayne County Board of Education approved six administrative personnel changes this week.
Exceptional Children’s Program Manager
Dillard Middle School Principal Sonja Emerson has been named the Exceptional Children’s Programs Manager for the District’s Exceptional Children’s Program.
Mrs. Emerson is a 38 year veteran educator, with 30 years spent in special education.
She began her career in school administration in 2009 as an assistant principal at Tommy’s Road Elementary. She was named principal of Dillard Middle in 2012. Prior to transitioning to school administration, Mrs. Emerson spent 28 years as a teacher at Edgewood Community Developmental School. She also spent two years teaching students with disabilities at the O’Berry Center.
Emerson holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University. It is worth noting that Mrs. Emerson worked with local parents to organize the Wayne County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina, over a decade ago. In 2012, the local chapter awarded her recognition for Outstanding Service to the Wayne County Autism Community. She was also awarded the Goldsboro Mayor’s Trophy for the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities in 2005.
Dillard Middle School Principal
Northwest Elementary principal Dr. Theresa Cox has been named the new principal at Dillard Middle School.
Dr. Cox is a 23 year veteran educator who started her education career in 1994 as a middle school language arts and social studies teacher in Pitt County.
In 1997, Dr. Cox joined Wayne County Schools as a teacher at Spring Creek School. In 2001, Dr. Cox transitioned to administration as an assistant principal at Northwest Elementary.
In 2004, Dr. Cox was named assistant principal at Dillard Middle School. In 2005 she was named principal of Belfast Academy. She was named principal of Northwest Elementary in 2007.
Dr. Cox holds a bachelors degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She holds a master’s degree in school administration and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University.
Northwest Elementary Principal
Fremont STARS Elementary Principal Sheila Wolfe has been appointed as the new principal at Northwest Elementary.
Mrs. Wolfe is a 26 year veteran educator who began her career as principal in 2008 at Fremont STARS Elementary. Prior to that, she spent four years as an assistant principal at Tommy’s Road Elementary.
Mrs. Wolfe has also worked as a physical education teacher at Tommy’s Road Elementary, Brogden Primary, Carver Heights Elementary, and Eastern Wayne Elementary.
Mrs. Wolfe is National Board certified in physical education. She holds a bachelors degree in physical education and health, and a master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University.
Fremont STARS Elementary Principal
Eastern Wayne Elementary principal Kelly Langston will replace Sheila Wolfe as the new principal at Fremont STARS Elementary.
Ms. Langston started her education career in 2001 as an elementary teacher at Fremont STARS Elementary. She later became the Title 1 Lead Teacher and Curriculum Facilitator at FSE.
In 2009 she transitioned to school administration as an assistant principal at Charles B. Aycock High. She was named principal of Eastern Wayne Elementary in July 2010.
Ms. Langston holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education and a certification in school administration from East Carolina University.
Eastern Wayne Elementary Principal
Goldsboro High School principal Robert Yelverton will replace Kelly Langton as the new principal at Eastern Wayne Elementary.
Yelverton is a 23 year veteran educator who started his career as a principal in 2008 at Southern Academy.
Following the merger of Belfast and Southern academies in 2009, he was named a principal at the Wayne Middle Academy. He was named principal of Northeast Elementary in 2011 where he served for five years until transitioning to Goldsboro High in February 2016.
In addition to serving as assistant principal at various schools, he also taught at Goldsboro middle and high schools and Mount Olive Middle.
Mr. Yelverton holds a bachelor’s degree in design tech from Norfolk University and a teacher’s certification in middle grades math and a master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University.
Interim Goldsboro High Principal
WCPS Innovative Schools Coordinator Marcia Manning was named Interim Principal of Goldsboro High.
Mrs. Manning joined WCPS last fall after leaving NC New Schools, where she served as an Education Innovation Director training principals in school reform, education leadership, and academic best practices.
Mrs. Manning has over 27 years education experience, 13 of which were spent as a principal of Columbia Middle School and Columbia Early/College High School in Columbia, North Carolina. Since joining WCPS, she has been working with five schools, including Goldsboro High, to implement and/or support innovative programs and high school instructional reform efforts.
Mrs. Manning holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a master’s degree in science education and a master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in education leadership from East Carolina University.
“It is our strongest desire to see Goldsboro High become a high performing school for the students and the community,” states Dr. Dunsmore, “Mrs. Manning is the ideal candidate to lead Goldsboro High while we conduct a nationwide search for this position. Mrs. Manning is already familiar with the students and staff at the school. She also has a strong background in school reform and innovative schools, as a former state-wide facilitator with NC New Schools.”
“We believe these moves will capitalize on the diverse strengths and backgrounds of each of these administrators in order to bring out the best in these schools and our district,” stated Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore. “We look forward to working with all of these administrators as they begin their transition to their new roles at the end of the academic school year.”
Wayne County Schools is currently interviewing for the Southern Wayne High principal vacancy. Current Principal Dr. John Boldt announced his retirement earlier this year. He has served as principal of the school since 2008. The district hopes to announce a new principal in the near future.
