N.A. Elementary's new principal: Switching schools is bittersweet

Of the 11 Aiken County public schools that will get new principals in July, four are in North Augusta's Area 2, and all four principals are current assistants in that attendance area.

Stephanie Hammond is moving from Belvedere Elementary to become the Mossy Creek Elementary principal. Laurie Reese, the current Mossy Creek assistant, is headed to North Augusta Elementary School.

The NAES assistant, Allison Churm, will become principal at Belvedere. John Murphy, a North Augusta High School assistant principal, will take the reins at Paul Knox Middle School.

Reese's new assistant principal, Felecia Walters, is transferring from the same position at Hammond Hill Elementary School in North Augusta.

"It's exciting," Reese said Saturday. "We're a North Augusta group and know how to work well together. I've worked with all of them, and it will make for a great transition."

Reese spent 12 years as a Warrenville Elementary School teacher. She spent three years as an assistant principal at North Aiken Elementary School, where she worked with principals Rhonda Ray, Ken Maddux and the current Associate Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Kevin O'Gorman. At Mossy Creek, Reese's principal was Rose Marshall. North Augusta Elementary Principal Dr. Angela Burkhalter is retiring following a School Board decision not to rehire already-retired administrators who are working at-will.

"I'm ready to take the plunge, and I'm excited about North Augusta Elementary," Reese said. "I know it's a great school, and I'll visit sometime this week."

The bittersweet part, she said, is leaving Mossy Creek after opening the school with Marshall in 2005.

"We really did become a family there," said Reese. "I love the children and the parents. We have such a great support system."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.