Vance County Schools Administrative Changes for 2012-2013


The Vance County Board of Education during a special meeting Thursday night approved several administrative changes in Vance County Schools for the 2012-2013 school year.

The changes include the appointments of two assistant superintendents for the local public school system and new principals at seven of the 16 local schools.

All of the approved administrative changes will be effective on Monday, July 23.

Dr. Trixie Brooks, who has served most recently as the executive director of Instructional Services for the school system, will be an assistant superintendent of Curriculum/Instruction K-12. Brian Creasman, who has served as the principal of Northern Vance High School for the past several years, will be an assistant superintendent of Administrative Services.

Dr. Michael Applewhite, principal of Princeville Elementary School in Edgecombe County, will be the new principal at Northern Vance High School. Applewhite is a native of Vance County.

Willa Clark, who has served as the principal of Southern Vance High School for the last two school years, has been selected as the new director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the school system. Clark replaces Pam Bello as CTE director. Bello retired on July 1. Clark will be replaced as principal at Southern Vance by Stephanie Ayscue, an assistant principal at the school for several years.

Additional administrative changes include:

  • Heddie Somerville, former assistant principal, appointed principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School;
  • David Westbrook, who was interim principal at Henderson Middle School, appointed principal at Carver Elementary School;
  • Dr. John Hargrove, principal at Clarke Elementary School, appointed principal at Henderson Middle School;
  • Crystal Richardson, principal last school year at New Hope Elementary School, appointed principal at Clarke Elementary School;
  • Dr. Harold Thompson, principal at Carver Elementary School for the last several years, appointed principal at New Hope Elementary School;
  • Donna Blakebrough, an assistant principal at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, transferred to Henderson Middle School as an assistant principal;
  • Kimberly Simms, an assistant principal at Henderson Middle School, transferred to Eaton-Johnson Middle School as an assistant principal;
  • John Russick, a teacher at Northern Vance High School and administrative intern last year, appointed as an assistant principal at Southern Vance High School.

The assistant principal’s position at Pinkston Street Elementary School remains vacant. The position of director of the Department for Exceptional Children for the school system will become vacant on August 1, with the retirement of Patty Kennedy. School system officials have begun the process to select administrators to fill these positions.