A Lenoir County School assistant principal swap will diversify a pair of administrative teams next school year.
As an AP job opened at North Lenoir High School upon the retirement of Edwin Jones, district Superintendent Steve Mazingo saw a perfect opportunity to rework respective all-female and all-male administrations at two high schools.
Kinston High School traded five-year AP Felicia Boone Jones for Brian Corey, an instructor completing his education internship who would have been named Edwin Jones' replacement, after local Board of Education approval Monday night.
“It’s always great for an administrative staff to have both genders,” Mazingo said. “I really try to do that balance whenever possible.”
He added, “It's always preferable to have a mix if you can.”
Mazingo has previously restructured other administrative staff at district schools for the same reason.
For two years, a female principal and two female assistant principals have headed Kinston High, while the same was true for North Lenoir but with males. According to Kinston High Principal Angela Bryant, the switch will diversify administrative genders as well as skill sets. Felicia Boone Jones has five years of experience at the high school level while Corey is just getting started.
“I've not worked with him personally,” said Bryant Tuesday, “but in my conversations with Dr. Mazingo and (North Lenoir Principal Gil Respess), he seems to be a go-getter, very passionate, very enthusiastic, (and) willing to do whatever. First thing this morning, he was emailing me about his enthusiasm joining us next year.”
While the personnel move was approved Monday, the assistant principals will begin at their new schools in August.
“With the break in the summer,” Bryant said, “it gives an opportunity for those transitions to take place and things to be a lot smoother.”
She's not completely thrilled to be losing a valuable member of the Kinston High staff but said it's a chance for Felicia Boone Jones to broaden her skill set in return for fresh enthusiasm from Corey.
A Greenville native and ECU graduate, Corey is wrapping up the last days of his internship, where he's served in the North Lenoir “AP role” three months. During his internship, he was also placed at Southeast Elementary School and Frink Middle School.
“I was able to see every level during my internship, so I'm definitely looking forward to being at Kinston High School now,” he said. “I'm expecting to have a great year. I'm expecting to help the principals with their vision for the school, be part of progress and help the county reach their initiatives and goals set for high schools.”
Conversations about the move began a couple of months ago. Mazingo said a mixed staff is “more capable of responding to whatever might happen.” For example, a woman may be reluctant to handle a situation happening in a boys' bathroom.
Bryant said there have not been any problems in the two years of an all-female team.
“There was no issue to where I was looking or in the market for a new AP or Mr. Respess was in the market for a new AP,” she said. “Whenever you have an opportunity to have a good mixture in your administrative team, that's always helpful.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.