Familiar face takes the lead at L.J. Bell Elementary

Richmond County Schools is excited to announce Meredith Norwood as the new principal of L.J. Bell Elementary School. Norwood has served as the assistant principal at L.J. Bell for the past three years.

Norwood began her career in Education as a second-grade teacher at Walter Bickett Elementary School in Union County. “I have wanted to pursue a career in education for as long as I can remember. I come from a long line of educators, you could say it’s in my blood,” shared Norwood.

Over the course of 16 years, Norwood taught in both elementary and middle schools, also serving as an academic coach before transitioning into school administration at L.J. Bell. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and her master’s in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

“I enjoy building relationships and helping people grow. School leadership allows me to do this on a larger scale. Working with not only the students, but the entire school is what drives me to grow both professionally and personally,” expressed Norwood.

Building on her extensive experience, Norwood envisions a future where the school community continues to thrive through strong relationships and effective teaching practices.

“Meredith excelled as an assistant principal, distinguishing herself as a strong instructional leader. We are confident she will continue to have a positive impact as L.J. Bell’s new principal,” stated Superintendent Dr. Joe Ferrell.

As she steps into her new role, Norwood shared she is eager to build on the school’s success, stating, “we have worked hard to build a thriving school environment and I am excited and honored to continue this journey with the staff and students.”