news-record.com

When students return to the classroom on Tuesday, many will see new faces in the hallways.

A number of local schools have new principals at the helm this year.

To welcome its first graduating class, Northern High School also welcomes Principal William Laine.

Laine is the former principal of Kernodle Middle. Before that, he was the principal at Harmon Middle School in Aurora City, Ohio.

Ralph Kitley, who spent seven years as an assistant principal at Northwest High, has returned to Northwest as principal.

“I want to continue to uphold the tradition of excellence that exists at NWHS,” said Kitley, who was most recently principal of Southwest High. Before that, was principal of Middle College at GTCC-High Point.

“We will focus on student achievement through active student engagement,” he said.

Taking the reins at Jackson Middle is Lance Stokes. Stokes is former principal of Sedalia Elementary, his first job as a principal.

Former Jackson Middle assistant principal Rydell Harrison is now the principal of Sternberger Elementary. Harrison worked as a teacher and tutor at Sternberger in the past.

After nearly three years as an instructional improvement officer, Gay Citty is heading back to the elementary school setting as the skipper at Morehead Elementary. Before that position, Citty was the principal at Gibsonville Elementary.

Stepping into the top position at Kernodle Middle is Jeffrey Uhlenberg, who returns to Guilford County Schools after three years as a principal in Randolph County. Before that, Uhlenberg taught at Hunter Elementary and Northwest Middle.

Rodney Wilds will take the reins at Andrews High School. He served as principal at Jackson Middle School last year.

Montlieu Math and Science Academy will be steered by Jill Hall, who was assigned to Sternberger Elementary last year.

Other new principals include Charles Blanchard at Southeast High School and Bobby Ann Hayes at the Early College at Guilford. Before their new assignments, Blanchard was principal at the Early College at Guilford and Hayes was an instructional improvement officer.

Contact Tiffany S. Jones at 373-7157 or tiffany. jones@news-record.com