By K.D. Robertson, Bryan County Schools

Four Bryan County Schools will have new principals this school year, but while they will be new to their positions, they are not strangers to workingin BCS.

Heather Tucker, Bivins Miller, Brittney Mobley and Elizabeth Bennett will be assuming the role of principal at McAllister Elementary School, Richmond Hill High School, Frances Meeks Elementary School and Richmond Hill Middle School, respectively.

Tucker, who has worked in education for 13 years, will be moving just down the hall to her new office in McAllister Elementary. She has been the assistant principal there for several years.

“My goal is to continue creating an engaging environment in which staff and students are excited to come and work together,” said Tucker.

“In my time working alongside Mrs.Tucker, I have learned more from her than she probably did from me,” said Miller, the former principal of MES.

“She is an asset to the Bryan County School System and will do a tremendous job in her new role as principal of McAllister Elementary School.”

Miller will be the new principal at Richmond Hill High School and has come a long way since his first job working in his grandfather’s HVAC company.

“Hard work, nose to the grindstone, being communicative and building relationships was at the forefront of his company and further instilled the values into the educator I am today,” Miller said.

“Mr. Miller works tirelessly to do what is best for students, and he regularly identifies and implements new experiences and opportunities for them, their teachers and the full school and community,” said Debi McNeal, who is leaving her role as principal at RHHS to be the director of Curriculum and Instruction for BCS. “He is a perfect match for this leadership position.” Formerly the assistant principal at Richmond Hill Elementary School, Mobley will be the first principal of the new Frances Meeks Elementary School. “I am excited to bring together new staff, students and parents to form the best team around,” said Mobley. “I look forward to starting new traditions and ensuring FME is a school that represents Mrs. Meeks’ educational legacy well.”

“Opening a new school is both exciting and challenging at the same time,” said Dr. Paul Brooksher Bryan County Schools superintendent.

“Dr.Mobley is a highly respected educational leader who will do an outstanding job bringing the Frances Meeks Elementary School community of students, teachers and parents together, as she opens this beautiful new school. “With Dr. Mobley as principal, the future of Frances Meeks Elementary School looks extremely bright.” With the retirement of Dr. William McGrath, Richmond Hill Middle School will also gain a new principal. A familiar face at RHMS, Dr. Bennett has worked in education for 15 years and said that she is excited to “see our students’ faces back at RHMS in the fall. We miss the energy and life that comes from a building full of eager learners.”

McGrath said, “Over the past eight years, Dr.

Bennett has developed into a phenomenal leader.

She will be an exceptional principal and I am very proud of her and excited for the future of RHMS.”

The four new principals will assume their positions this fall.