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Wilkes County Schools names new West Wilkes principal, outlines staffing and student-health data ahead of school year
Summary
Superintendent D. Mark Byrd announced leadership hires, said the district has 43 new staff and will begin the year with 15.5 fewer certified positions; Director David Johnson presented school-health and athletics data, including 479 random drug tests with 13 positives.
Superintendent D. Mark Byrd opened the Wilkes County Board of Education’s Aug. 4 meeting with condolences for the family of Trenton Anderson, a rising eighth grader at West Wilkes Middle School who died after a car crash, and then summarized staffing and pre‑school-year preparations. "We hired you; it is our role to make sure you are successful," Byrd said, congratulating new principals and assistant principals and encouraging district support for new hires.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood announced that Daniel "Dan" Prouty, previously an assistant principal at West Wilkes High School, will serve as the school’s principal for 2025–2026. The board also recognized three assistant principals: Dr. Alicia Murzin (West Wilkes High School), Jordan Gilbert (West Wilkes Middle School) and Amanda Smith (East Wilkes Middle School).
Director of Secondary Education, Athletics, and School Safety David Johnson presented 2024–25 student‑health and athletics data. Johnson reported the district deploys the equivalent of 11.5 school nurses across 22 schools, that school nurses delivered 205 health education presentations and completed 279 home visits last year, and that students were returned to class after 24,771 health‑office encounters. On student substance testing, the district administered 479 random drug tests during 2024–25, of which 13 were positive. Johnson also reported 1,050 high‑school and 722 middle‑school athletic participations and noted 77 scholar‑athlete team awards (3.1 GPA or higher, unweighted).
Byrd reminded the board that the district will begin the 2025–26 year with 15.5 fewer certified positions, 11 fewer non‑certified positions and one fewer administrative position than the previous year, and he asked the board and community to support new staff as the year begins.
The board approved the personnel report, which included retirements and promotions, and approved multiple out‑of‑county/overnight field trips for students. The meeting adjourned at 7:39 PM after a closed session on personnel matters.
