New asst. principal to remain at school

Kim Stokes is moving from the classroom to an assistant principal position, but she isn't moving far.

The Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School third-grade teacher will remain there in her new role, which begins July 1. Stokes is one of 20 educators becoming assistant principals for the first time or transferring from other schools.

"There's no other place I'd rather be to begin my journey," she said Sunday. "It will be sad to leave the classroom, but at the same time I'll be around a community and people that I know well. Now I'll get to be involved in all grade levels."

There's another bittersweet aspect to her promotion, however. Stokes will succeed Dr. Jerry Lynn, a working retiree who won't return next year because of the school district's budget deficits. Both came to Oakwood-Windsor in 1999.

"That's the part that makes it difficult," Stokes said. "Dr. Lynn has been a great role model."

A resident of Dorchester County, Stokes left Oakwood-Windsor for one year to teach in Dorchester District 4. She was back the following year in 2003.

"Oakwood-Windsor reminded me of home," she said in a 2008 interview. "I've never been part of a faculty that had been so welcoming. We're one big family here."

She was hired by principal Dr. Alice Sheehan, who retired in 2007 and was succeeded by Janice Kitchings.

"Both have been so supportive," Stokes said. "They have high expectations for their students and teachers. I've been very fortunate to work with such strong, professional women."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.

Personnel with previous administrative experience in the school district reassigned to assistant principal positions are as follows, with their new assignments in parentheses: John Mills (Aiken Elementary School), Samantha Nobles (Aiken Middle School), Annie Boyce (Mossy Creek Elementary School), Felecia Walters (North Augusta Elementary School), Trey Laube (Hammond Hill Elementary School), Lloydette Young (Paul Knox Middle School), John Bradley (North Augusta High), Kathy Freeman (Jackson Middle School) and Wayne Hardy (Greendale Elementary, New Ellenton Middle School).

The first-time assistant principals in Aiken County are listed below, again with their new assignments in parentheses:

* Ute Aadland (Aiken High) - University of South Carolina, B.S. in political science and master's in public administration; Augusta State University, M.Ed. in educational leadership with teaching experience at Kennedy Middle School, Fox Creek High and Silver Bluff High and experience as a Fox Creek assistant principal, on the USC faculty and as a student services coordinator.

* Laura Bacon (Aiken High) - USC Aiken, bachelor's degree; University of South Carolina, master's; Augusta State, education specialist degree with teaching experience at Kennedy Middle School and Aiken Elementary School.

* Tyral Braxton (North Aiken Elementary) - S.C. State, B.S. in elementary education; Columbia College, master's in education; Augusta State University, Ed.S. in educational leadership with teaching experience at Williston-Elko Middle School, Blackville Middle School and North Aiken Elementary School.

* Lori Jones (Belvedere Elementary School) - USC, B.A. in education, master's in education; Augusta State, elementary supervision/principal with teaching experience at Hammond Hill, Mossy Creek, North Augusta and Jefferson Elementary schools.

* Sherry McIver (Clearwater Elementary School) - USC, B.A. in early childhood education; Augusta State, master's in educational leadership with teaching experience at Redcliffe Elementary School, Jackson Middle School and Pine Tree Hill Elementary School (Camden).

* Jay Torgesen (Ridge Spring-Monetta High) - USCA, bachelor's in secondary education; Augusta State, master's in educational leadership with teaching experience at North Augusta High and Kennedy Middle schools.

* Debra McCord (Gloverville, Jefferson Elementary Schools) - Augusta College, B.A. in education; Augusta State, master's in administration and Ed.S. in administration with teaching experience at Clearwater Elementary School (instructional coach), North Aiken Elementary School and North Augusta Middle School.

* Isaiah Mealing (Midland Valley High) -- USCA, B.A. in education; Augusta State, M.E. in administration/supervision and pursuing education specialist degree with teaching experience at Kennedy Middle School.

* Cindy Munschy (Aiken Middle School) - Michigan State University, Bachelor of Science; Augusta State University, Master of Guidance and Master of Educational Leadership with guidance counseling experience at Belvedere Elementary, Kennedy Middle School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School and Aiken Middle School.

* Johnny Spears (Kennedy Middle School) - USCA, B.A. in interdisciplinary studies; USC, M.A. in Natural Sciences and M.Ed. in education administration with teaching experience at Mainland High (Daytona Beach) and Schofield Middle School.

* Kim Stokes (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary) - Winthrop University, bachelor's in elementary education; USCA, master's in elementary education; The Citadel, Master's plus 30 in elementary administration with teaching experience at Oakwood-Windsor and Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary schools.