New Principals Chosen For Three SDPC Middle Schools

The school district board of trustees approved new principals at Pickens Middle School, R.H. Gettys Middle School and J.C. Brice Middle School on Monday night.

Jeff Duncan has been selected to lead Pickens Middle School, Reggia Stapleton will head Gettys Middle School, and Mike Cory will lead the new J.C. Brice Middle School. Stapleton and Cory will work together as associate principals at Gettys Middle School in the coming school year to oversee the division of the school into Brice and Gettys in 2014.

“Having both principals named will better enable the district to transition to Brice Middle this school year, complete the renovations at Gettys Middle School and then split to two middle schools the following year,” said Dr. Kelly Pew, district superintendent. “I look forward to working with Mrs. Stapleton and Mr. Cory as we transition to Brice Middle this summer.

Duncan is currently an assistant principal at Daniel High School, where he has served since 2007. Prior to working at Daniel, he was a social studies teacher and football coach at Easley High School from 2002-2007. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education History and Geography from Clemson University, a Master’s Degree in School Leadership from Furman University, and an Education Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University.

“I am looking forward to building a culture of excellence that our feeder elementary schools and parents/guardians of our current students will be excited and proud about,” Duncan said. “My goal is to work jointly with Pickens High to maximize the educational opportunities available on our new campus to prepare our students for high school, Graduation, and life after high school.”

Pew said, “I am very pleased that Jeff Duncan will lead Pickens Middle School beginning in July. He is a product of the Pickens area schools and has served as assistant principal at Daniel High School for the last six years. He is an advocate for students and will provide support to teachers enabling them to prepare students for the future. I look forward to working with Mr. Duncan as he transitions to Pickens Middle School.”

Reggia Stapleton has served as the director of the John T. Simpson Alternative Program since 2011. She has worked in public education since 1985 and in the school district since 1988 in many roles including teacher, assistant principal at Pickens Middle School, assistant director of John T. Simpson, and interim principal at R.C. Edwards Middle School.

“In 1969, as an Easley native and a seventh grade student at Easley Junior High – now known as Gettys Middle School – I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to serve as the principal of this great school,” Stapleton said. “Mike Cory and other great principals before him have left a legacy of educational excellence that I hope to continue. I look forward to working with the students, parents, staff, Mr. Cory, Dr. Pew and the SDPC Board of Trustees to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

“We are excited that Reggia Stapleton will be leading Gettys Middle School,” Pew said. “Her experience at Pickens Middle, Edwards Middle, and Simpson Academy has prepared her to lead Gettys Middle School. Mrs. Stapleton is a product of the Easley area schools and is committed to the students and the community.”

Stapleton holds a Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Sociology and Secondary Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University.

Mike Cory has been the principal at Gettys Middle School for the past 7 years, during which time he led the school to its highest school report card rating in over a decade and the school’s first Palmetto Silver Award for increasing student achievement.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead J.C. Brice Middle School,” Cory said. “I look forward to continuing to serve our families and creating the vision for Brice Middle School “Riptide” that will be built upon the tradition of excellence in Easley.”

Cory is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Gardner-Webb University, achieved a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina, and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Clemson University