Four Beaufort County schools will have new principals in the fall. What to know
Beaufort County School District hired three principals this week at Lady’s Island Middle School, Robert Smalls International Academy and Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts.
All three have worked in the district as administrators.
In addition, Chavon Browne is moving from the principal’s post at Port Royal Elementary School to Lady’s Island Middle School, meaning the district is currently looking for someone to fill the Port Royal principal position.
Browne replaces Gregory Hall, who came under fire in February for a test score presentation that parents said singled out Black students.
In March, he announced he was resigning from the position to become a deputy superintendent for instruction at Florence 1 Schools.
Browne previously served as an assistant principal at Red Cedar Elementary, and was the 2008-09 Teacher of the Year at Whale Branch Middle School. She holds a Doctor of Education Degree in Instructional Leadership from Northcentral University.
Celest LaVan is returning to the district to become the principal at Robert Smalls International Academy after resigning from a six-year stint as Joseph Shanklin Elementary’s principal in 2019 to become the Director of Elementary Education at Darlington County School District.
LaVan replaces Jennifer Morillo, who left the district to take a position with the national Leader in Me program, per a district press release.
LaVan previously taught at Beaufort Elementary and served as assistant principal at Shanklin and Whale Branch elementary schools. She holds a Doctor of Education Degree from Liberty University.
Nikki Lucas will move from assistant principal to principal of Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts. She is replacing Gretchen Keefner, who is retiring after 44 years in education, according to the district.
Lucas has served as the assistant principal at Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts for five years, and previously worked as a principal and teacher in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix and an Educational Leadership Certification from Concord University.