Wayne County Public Schools

During its regularly scheduled monthly meeting held on June 2, the Wayne County Board of Education approved the following principal and district leadership changes:

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Advisor to the State Superintendent and former North Carolina Principal of the Year (2018), Tabari Wallace, EdS, was named principal of Carver Heights Elementary. He is replacing Linda Brown-Rouse who is retiring at the end of the school year. Mr. Wallace has 26 years of teaching, administrative, and state-level leadership experience, and has served in his current role since 2021. Mr. Wallace holds a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services, a master degree in rehabilitation services, a master's degree in school counseling, a master's degree in school administration, and an educational specialist degree. It is worth noting that Mr. Wallace was the first two-year advisor to the State Board of Education, was appointed by Governor Cooper to the Craven Community College Board of Trustees and by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tim Moore to the Professional Educator Preparation & Standards Commission. Other distinctions include formerly serving as a NC Public Forum board member, NASSP National Principal of the Year Candidate, N.C. Human Capital Roundtable member, SBE Equity Goal Team member, NC Teacher Support Program Board Member, Principal Standards Commission member, Governor’s Crime Task Force member, Government & Community Affairs Committee member, former Teaching Fellows Commission, and a New Bern Redevelopment Commission Board member.

Brogden Middle principal, Lorrie Kester, was named principal of Norwayne Middle. Ms. Kester has 18 years of teaching and school administrative experience, and has served in her current role since 2024. Ms. Kester holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and business, a master’s degree in middle grades education, and a master’s degree in school administration.

Norwayne Middle assistant principal, Charlie Davis, was named principal of Brogden Middle. Mr. Davis has 18 years of teaching and school administrative experience, and has served in his current role since 2024. He holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in school administration. It is worth noting that Mr. Davis was both a North Teaching Fellow and a North Carolina Principal Fellow.

Charles B. Aycock High assistant principal, Carol Hollar-Watson, was named principal of Wayne School of Engineering. Mrs. Hollar Watson has 28 years public, charter, and private school teaching and school administrative experience and has served in her current role since 2024. Mrs. Hollar Watson holds both a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education and a master's degree in school administration.

“Each of these principals bring with them teaching and administrative experience that will benefit the students, staff and families at their respective schools,” states Dr. Marc Whichard, Superintendent. “We are especially pleased to bring Tabari Wallace to Wayne County Public Schools and look forward to his high level of energy, excitement, and experience that he will bring to Carver Heights Elementary to help support student and staff success. The district administration will support each of these principals during the summer transition, and work to support them in their efforts to build upon the academic success at their schools in the coming year."

In addition to principal changes, the Board approved the following assistant superintendent hires:

Wayne School of Engineering principal, Dr. Gary Hales was named the Assistant Superintendent for Support Services. Dr. Hales is replacing Dr. Tim Harrell, who is retiring at the end of the month. Dr. Hales has 28 years of teaching and administrative experience. Dr. Hales was the founding principal of Wayne School of Engineering, having helped design the school through the original planning grant, and has served in this role since 2007. It is worth noting that Dr. Hales was the Wayne County Public Schools Principal of the Year in the 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2023-2024 school years. Dr. Hales holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education, a master’s degree in school administration, and doctorate's degree in educational leadership. As Assistant Superintendent of Support Services, Dr. Hales will oversee the department areas of Maintenance, Operations, School Nutrition, and Transportation. In his role, he will support staff who show up every day to handle facility needs (e.g. plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, etc), drive buses, keep our campuses clean, keep our buses running, and serve meals. Dr. Hales will also oversee school construction, renovations, and other district capital needs.  

Norwayne Middle principal, Brian Weeks, was named the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Mr. Weeks is replacing Dr. Yvette Smith Mason, who is retiring at the end of the month. Mr. Weeks has 22 years of teaching and school administrative experience, having served at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He has served in his current role since 2018. It is worth noting that Mr. Weeks was the Wayne County Public Schools Principal of the Year back-to-back in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school year. Mr. Weeks holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in school administration.  As Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Mr. Weeks will support approximately two thousand full time and part time employees. In his role, he will oversee the areas of recruitment, hiring, employee contracts and records, substitute teachers, professional development, employee evaluations, dispute mediation and/or investigations, and teacher licensure.  

"Dr. Hales and Mr. Weeks bring a wealth of key skill sets and administrative experience into their new roles, with each having a unique professional lens and background which will be critical for the areas they will oversee," states Dr. Marc Whichard, WCPS superintendent.

District leadership anticipates a smooth transition for Dr. Hales and Mr. Weeks to their new roles.

“Our school district has been fortunate for the strong leadership of Dr. Mason and Dr. Harrell,” adds Dr. Whichard. While we wish them both well in their retirements, we recognize that there is still a high level of work for their departments as we close out one school year and transition to the next. I look forward to working with Dr. Hales and Mr. Weeks to build off of the solid foundations that have been laid for their departments, and support them as they work strategically to expand vision and goals for the departmental areas to continue moving our district forward."    

All of the administrative changes will take effect July 1, 2025.