Lee County principal to head 2 schools

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

The Lee County School District will save money in administrative salaries for 2009-10 by not replacing a principal and a district administrator.

Bishopville Primary School Principal Lei Knight will also serve as principal of Dennis Intermediate School, according to District Superintendent Dr. Cleo Richardson.

Principal Kwamine Simpson resigned in June, Richardson said.

Raymond Cook, a longtime teacher and educator at West Lee Elementary School, will be transferred to Dennis Intermediate and serve as administrative assistant.

Cook will serve as the head administrator at Dennis when Knight is not on the campus, Richardson said.

Cook served in the same capacity at West Lee School for the 2008-09 school term, while Robert Ervin served as principal of West Lee and Lower Lee elementary schools.

Richardson previously announced that Ervin will be West Lee’s principal and David Montgomery, formerly assistant principal of Lee Central High School, will be the new principal at Lower Lee.

Richardson said he believes Knight can effectively manage both schools.

“You’re talking about K-4 (4-year-old kindergarten) through fifth grade,” Richardson said. “And that’s about 600 students. I think it’s good to have one head administrator K-4 through 5th grade. It gives you continuity. And both schools have strong assistants.”

Shalone Martin is in his second year as the assistant principal of BPS, Richardson said.

“And Mr. Cook’s record speaks for itself,” Richardson said.

The district will have one district-level administrator in the department of instruction for 2009-10.

Bernice Wright, longtime teacher, director and principal in the Lee County Schools, has announced her retirement. She has most recently been serving as executive director of instruction.

Dr. Cheryl Stover, currently serving as director of Elementary Education, will be promoted to fill Wright’s position. The elementary education position will not be filled, Richardson said.

Communications and Human Resources Director Melissa Gary has also resigned, Richardson said. The district is expected to begin interview applicants for that position next week, he said. The district received 45 applications.

The district previously announced that Deitra Johnson, who has been the principal of Mount Pleasant Middle School, will be the principal of Lee Central Middle School. Mary Randall, former principal of Bishopville Primary and assistant principal of Dennis Intermediate and Dennis Middle, will be the assistant principal of Lee Central Middle School.

Carl Baker will serve as the administrative assistant at Lee Central Middle.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.