WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Four new principals have been named to lead schools in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools starting with the 2016-17 school year.

Rita McPhatter will be the principal of Caleb’s Creek Elementary School; Alicia Bailey will be the principal of Cash Elementary School; Heather Horton will be the principal of Petree Elementary School; and Brad Royal will be the principal of Reagan High School.

McPhatter has been the assistant principal of Caleb’s Creek for six years and was the assistant principal of Latham Elementary for three years. She has been a curriculum facilitator and teacher in Guilford County Schools and a teacher in Richmond, Va., and the District of Columbia. She is replacing Judy Jones, who is retiring.

McPhatter earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Bennett College and a master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Bailey is the interim principal at Southwest Elementary School. She has been the assistant principal at Southwest and at Ashley IB Magnet School over the past six years. She was named the state’s Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year in 2012. Bailey also has taught and served as a writing specialist and academically gifted specialist in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. She is replacing Kasey Northrop, who is leaving to be a principal in her native Cumberland County.

Bailey earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s degree in education from Winston-Salem State University. Horton has been the district’s director of digital teaching and learning since 2014. In that role, she helped schools integrate technology into daily teaching practices. She also has worked as an assistant principal , instructional technology specialist and teacher for Surry County Schools. She is replacing Essie McKoy, who will be the principal of Philo-Hill Magnet School next year.

Horton earned a bachelor’s degree in science from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from High Point University. She will receive her doctorate in educational leadership this summer from High Point University.

Royal has been the principal of Jefferson Middle School since 2010. He was an assistant principal at Mount Tabor High School from 2004 to 2010, and he has taught and coached in WS/FCS and Stokes and Gaston counties. He is replacing Frank Martin, who is retiring.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master’s degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University.