Richmond County undergoes changes

Web posted August 7, 2000

 Have a thought? Go to the @ugusta Forums.

By Faith Johnson
Staff Writer

Richmond County schools will have 13 new principals this year and nine new assistant principals.

Among them is James Thompson. He will serve as the head of John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School - replacing Beverly Barnhart, founder of the school. Mrs. Barnhart retired last year after serving 19 years as the school's only principal.

Mr. Thompson, former principal of Roy Rollins Elementary School, served as Davidson's assistant principal from 1992 to 1994. He has been an educator in Richmond County for 26 years.

Mr. Thompson, 54, said he will not make drastic changes at Davidson.

``When you're the No. 1 school in the state, there's not a lot that needs to change,'' Mr. Thompson said. ``I will observe things for myself to see what changes, if any, need to be made. If changes are needed, they will be made on a collaborative basis with the people who would be affected.''

Born and raised in Augusta, Mr. Thompson attended Joseph Lamar, Tubman Middle and the Academy of Richmond County High School. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from Augusta State University and a specialist degree from the University of South Carolina.

He started his teaching career at Sue Reynolds Elementary School, then taught at Davidson, Murphey Middle and A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School. He served as principal of Rollins for three years.

``It's an honor and great opportunity to serve as principal of Davidson,'' Mr. Thompson said. ``But, I never want to make our students seem that they are of better quality than students at other schools. Our students have worked hard to get here and to stay here, and we expect them to give their best at all times. But I think all schools expect the same thing.''

Mr. Thompson said he will follow the school system's rules and policies and will apply a common-sense approach to individual cases.

``I want students to give their best academically, but I also want them to behave,'' he said. ``There will be consequences for not following rules.''

William Bass, who served last year as a language arts coordinator for the district, will take Mr. Thompson's place as principal of Rollins.

Other administrative changes include:

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL: Jesse Chambers will be principal of the alternative school. He was principal of Dorothy Hains Elementary School.

A.R. JOHNSON: Janina Dallas will be assistant principal of A.R. Johnson. She was an assistant principal at T.W. Josey High School.

BLYTHE ELEMENTARY: Joel Smith will be principal of Blythe Elementary. He was assistant principal of Butler High School.

BUNGALOW ROAD: Paula K. Baker will be principal of Bungalow Road Elementary. She was assistant principal at Spirit Creek Middle School.

BUTLER HIGH: Benjamin Motley will be assistant principal of Butler High School. He was a teacher at Glenn Hills High. Sam Adkins will be assistant principal of Butler. He was a teacher at A.R. Johnson.

COLLINS ELEMENTARY: Veronica Walker will be principal of Collins Elementary School. She was assistant principal of Butler High.

DOROTHY HAINS: Geoclyn Williams will be principal of Dorothy Hains Elementary. She was assistant principal of Lucy Laney High School.

EVENING SCHOOL: Winnette Bradley will be principal of the county's evening school. She was principal of the alternative school.

FOREMAN: Betty Shepherd will be principal of Willis Foreman Elementary. She was assistant principal of Tobacco Road Elementary.

GLENN HILLS MIDDLE: Rickey A. Lumpkin will be assistant principal of Glenn Hills Middle School. He was a teacher at Tutt Middle School.

GRACEWOOD ELEMENTARY: Mary B. Braswell will be principal of Gracewood Elementary. She was lead teacher at Lake Forest Hills and Warren Road elementary schools.

JENKINS ELEMENTARY: Nathaniel Dunn will be principal of Clara Jenkins Elementary School. He was principal of Bungalow Road Elementary.

HEPHZIBAH MIDDLE: Mary F. Ellison will be assistant principal of Hephzibah Middle School, where she has been a teacher.

HEPHZIBAH HIGH: Elizabeth Chamblin will be assistant principal of Hephzibah High for vocational education. She was assistant principal of Josey.

LANEY: Deborah Walker will be assistant principal of Lucy C. Laney High School. She was a teacher at A.R. Johnson.

MILLEDGE ELEMENTARY: Anna Reid will be principal of John Milledge Elementary school. She was assistant principal at C.T. Walker Magnet School and Wheeless Road Elementary.

NATIONAL HILLS: Marie Cooper-Draves will be principal of National Hills Elementary. She was principal of Gracewood Elementary.

SPIRIT CREEK MIDDLE: Debbie Alexander will be assistant principal of Spirit Creek Middle. She was a teacher at Tubman Middle.

T.W. JOSEY: Gregory McCord and Elizabeth Byus will be assistant principals. Mr. McCord was a teacher at Cross Creek High, and Ms. Byus was an assistant principal at A.R. Johnson.

Reach Faith Johnson at (706) 823-3765 or faithj@augustachronicle.com.