Beaufort County School District announces two new principal selections

BEAUFORT COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) – New administrators have been selected to lead two Beaufort County School District (BCSD) schools.

The two new principals are:

Dr. Sonji Leach has been selected to lead Whale Branch Early High School

Whale Branch Early College High School – Dr. Sonji Leach, current assistant principal at Beaufort High School, replaces Davina Coleman, who has accepted a corporate position outside of the district.

Leach’s administrative experience includes principal roles in Georgia at Swainsboro High School and Southwest Middle School. She also held interim principal roles at Alfred Ely Beach High School in Savannah and at Beaufort High School.

Additional administrative positions held in Columbia, S.C. include serving as Senior Executive Administrator at Allen University and Coordinator of Administrative Services for Richland County School District.

Leach additionally held the role of Director of School Improvement in the Savannah Chatham County public school system.

Leach holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University in Atlanta, an educational specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Lincoln Memorial University, and a master’s degree in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern University.

Keith Stewart has been selected to lead Bluffton Middle School

Bluffton Middle School – Keith Stewart, current assistant principal at Bluffton Middle School, replaces Matt Hall, who accepted the principal position at Bluffton High School last month.

Stewart began his educational career as a physical education teacher at Manning High School in the Clarendon School District. He went on to hold this role in Beaufort County at Whale Branch Elementary School, H.E. McCracken Middle School, and May River High School where he also held the role of Department Chair.

He has additionally served in assistant principal roles at Bluffton Middle School and May River High School.

Stewart holds a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of South Carolina.

Interview committees were comprised of teacher leaders, feeder/cluster principals, School Improvement Council members, the Chief Human Resources Officer, a Human Resources representative, an Executive Director, and a representative of the district’s Instructional Services division.

The high school interview committee also included student leaders. After each round of interviews, committee members rated the candidates and those ratings were submitted to Superintendent Rodriguez, who made the final recommendations submitted tonight to the Board of Education.

“Every exceptional district has strong school leaders, and I’m excited to see these superb educators be successful in their new roles,” BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said. “They’re experienced, they understand the importance of creating a school culture of moving academic achievement and ensuring our students succeed.”

The district will also be selecting a new principal for Broad River Elementary School this summer.