Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Improvement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gaston County Schools names 10 "innovation schools," lists principals for 2025-26
Summary
Superintendent announced 10 innovation-designated schools and the principals who will lead them in 2025-26; the strategy includes principal recruitment supplements, advanced teaching roles and targeted professional development supported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
GASTONIA, N.C. — At the March 17 meeting of the Gaston County Board of Education, Superintendent Morgan Houchard (presenting as "Doctor Richard" in parts of the transcript) announced a district innovation schools strategy and named 10 schools and their leaders for the 2025-26 school year.
Houchard described the strategy as a three-tier approach supported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: a principal recruitment supplement for qualifying schools, advanced teaching roles that provide pay supplements for effective teachers who move into leadership roles, and targeted professional development to raise instructional quality. "This will be done through initiatives and strategies supported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction," Houchard said.
The 10 innovation schools and their announced principals are: H. H. Beam Elementary (Beth Crosby); Summer City Central (Anna Miller); Woodhill Elementary (Jamie Wallace); Pleasant Ridge Elementary (Sean Hubers); Sherwood Elementary (Justin Beam); Lingerfeld Elementary (Jenny Cabe); Southwest Middle School (to be determined); Greer Middle School (Jessica Mellon); Ashbrook High School (Matt Reichard); and Hunter Huss High School (Kelsey Elms).
Houchard thanked the board for its work on the initiative and praised principals who accepted the assignments. The announcement was informational; no board vote was recorded during the meeting on the designations or supplements.
