As school districts across Middle Tennessee prepare to welcome kids back to class next month, students and their families can expect to see a few new faces in the front offices.
Nearly two dozen new principals have been announced by school officials in the suburbs around Nashville. Does your school have a new principal this fall?
Here’s a list of the new principals set to join schools across the region for the 2024-2025 school year:
Cheatham County
Ashland City Elementary STEM Academy: Linda Owen is the new principal, moving from Cheatham Middle School, where she’s served as principal since 2014. Owen replaces Dr. Melinda Broyles, who has been named the district’s new federal programs director.
Cheatham Middle: Jason Pierschbacher will serve as the new principal of Cheatham Middle School. Pierschbacher, who has served as the PVES principal since 2019, replaces Linda Owen who is transitioning to principalship at Ashland City Elementary STEM Academy.
Pleasant View Elementary: Nicole Galbreth is the new principal for the 2024-2025 school year. Galbreth has served as the assistant principal at Pleasant View Elementary School since 2021. She replaces Jason Pierschbacher, who will serve as the new principal at Cheatham Middle School in the fall.
Dickson County
Dickson County Schools didn't respond to requests for information before press time for this story.
Robertson County
Cheatham Park Elementary: Jen Hayes will serve as the new principal of Cheatham Park Elementary School. She spent 25 years in education as a classroom teacher, instructional coach and, most recently, as the assistant principal at Greenbrier Elementary School.
Coopertown Elementary: Theresa Chandler joins Coopertown Middle School as its new principal after serving in various educational roles for 31 years including the elementary, middle and high school level. Chandler served as principal of Cheatham Park Elementary School for the last five years.
East Robertson Elementary: Amy Shapton will lead East Robertson Elementary School as its newest principal after serving as the assistant principal at Heritage Elementary School for the past four years. Shapton began teaching at Robertson County Schools' Heritage Elementary in 2009.
Jo Byrns High: Dr. Cory Willoughby has been appointed the new principal of Jo Byrns High School. Willoughby joined Robertson County Schools as an assistant principal at Crestview Elementary School in 2018 and has served as principal at East Robertson Elementary for the last three years.
White House Heritage Elementary: Amanda Fields is returning to Robertson County Schools to serve as the new principal of White House Heritage Elementary School after working for several years in Dickson County Schools, where she previously served as the assistant principal at Creek Wood High School, and higher education.
Sumner County
Benny Bills Elementary: Reed Clapp has been announced as the principal of Benny Bills Elementary School after spending the last four years as assistant principal at Station Camp Elementary School. Before that, Clapp served as a classroom teacher at Madison Creek Elementary School for nine years.
Ellis Middle: Heather Whitaker is set to serve as principal of Ellis Middle School in the fall, replacing Adam Cripps, who accepted a position in the district as mentor and student support coach. Whitaker previously served as a lead educator, classroom teacher and for the last four years as the assistant principal of Ellis Middle School.
Middle Technical College: Jackson Howell has been named the principal of Middle Technical College High School. Howell replaces Emily Goddard, who has accepted a position with the district TeachSumner program. He previously spent 13 years as Portland East Middle School's principal.
Portland East Middle: Amanda Rippy will join Portland East Middle School as its new principal next semester. Rippy previously served as the lead educator for Bethpage Elementary, North Sumner Elementary and Oakmont Elementary, and as H.B. Williams Elementary's assistant principal for the last two years.
Station Camp Elementary: Dr. Lauren Hurley Wilson has been announced as principal of Station Camp Elementary School. Wilson served as the principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary for the last year and assistant principal of Jack Anderson Elementary School for three years.
Sumner County Middle College: Beth Dorris has been named principal of Sumner County Middle College High School at Volunteer State Community College, where she has served as the school's guidance counselor and principal designee for the last five years.
T.W. Hunter Middle: Dr. Jay Lovett is the new principal of T.W. Hunter Middle School, replacing Dr. Jessi Adams, who will be moving into a principal support role with the district. Lovett previously served as assistant principal at Gallatin High School, Station Camp Middle School and more recently, T.W. Hunter for the last five years.
Williamson County
Bethesda Elementary: A longtime Williamson County Schools administrator is moving south for the 2024-25 school year. Superintendent Jason Golden has announced that Sunset Elementary Principal Karen Caldwell will serve as the principal of Bethesda Elementary next year. She replaces Dr. Kari Miller, who resigned from the district last month.
Fairview Middle: Fairview High Assistant Principal Dr. Laura Hall is returning to her Williamson County Schools roots, but this time she will be leading the school. Superintendent Jason Golden has named Hall principal of Fairview Middle School. She began her WCS career teaching math at the middle school in 2016.
Wilson County
Mt. Juliet Middle: Lee Nachand is the new principal for 2024-2025 school year. Nachand has been an assistant principal at Green Hill High School for the last three years. Nachand replaces Candis Angle, who announced her retirement during this past school year.
Byars Dowdy Elementary: Aaron Tomlinson takes over as principal. Tomlinson, the assistant principal at Byars Dowdy for the last five years, replaces Cherrye Robertson who is transitioning to a district level position.
Castle Heights Elementary: Julie Benson is the new principal, moving from an assistant principal’s position at Walter J. Baird Middle School. Benson replaces Nathan Gordon, who is no longer with the district.
Jones Brummett Elementary: Kasey Wood is the new principal replacing Becky Siever, who has retired. Wood has been an assistant principal at Jones Brummett for the last three years.
Winfree Bryant Middle: Kate Calvert is the new principal replacing Laurie Offutt, who is retiring. Calvert moves from Wilson County Schools where she has been an assistant principal of Carroll Oakland School.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com. Gabrielle Chenault can be reached at gchenault@gannett.com. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
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