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Newport News School Board unanimously approves superintendent’s administrative appointments and reassignments
Summary
At its June 2 special meeting the Newport News School Board approved the superintendent’s recommendations to fill several principal and assistant-principal posts and heard multiple administrative reassignments; the motion passed 7–0.
NEWPORT NEWS — The Newport News School Board unanimously approved Superintendent Dr. Mitchell’s recommendations for principal and assistant-principal appointments at a special meeting on June 2, 2026.
Dr. Mitchell presented a slate of hires and their qualifications and said, “It is certainly my pleasure to present the following recommendations for appointment to leadership positions with Newport News Public Schools.” The board then moved, seconded and voted to adopt the superintendent’s personnel report.
The approved appointments included the recommendation of Charnell Simmons as principal of Sanford Elementary School; Jessica White Ottman as principal of Gildersleeve Middle School; Dr. Nicole Arrington as principal of Hinds Middle School; and a series of assistant-principal appointments at multiple schools. Dr. Mitchell listed each nominee’s highest degree and current assignment while presenting the slate.
Board member Miss Alger read the names included in the motion when moving to approve the report. The motion was seconded and, after a roll call, the vote passed 7–0.
After the vote, Dr. Mitchell announced administrative reassignments and site changes that the division will implement for the coming year. Among them: Michael Bellamy will serve as assistant principal at Crittenton Middle School; Heather Evans and Dr. Ed Van Dyke will be assigned to the division’s early childhood centers; Deborah Figgs will move to Kiln Creek as assistant principal; Lisa Gatz will be principal at Crittenton Middle School; Amy Gulick will lead Marshall Early Childhood Center as principal; Roland Noel will take a principal of operations role at Woodside High School; Melissa Rhodes will be assistant principal of instruction at Warwick High School; and Linden Hott will serve as assistant principal at Greenwood Elementary.
Dr. Mitchell used the announcements to thank instructional and support staff for the school year, saying the division is “seeing gains, in terms of our academics, in terms of our discipline.” She specifically recognized bus drivers and custodial staff as essential to daily operations.
Board members spent the remainder of the meeting offering closing remarks for the school year — congratulating graduates, noting community ceremonies and urging students to “celebrate responsibly.” With those remarks concluded, the chair adjourned the special meeting.
The approvals take effect as the district updates personnel assignments for the 2026–27 school year; the board did not discuss separate contract terms or salary specifics at the June 2 meeting.
