By Holly Fesperman Lee

Salisbury Post

Members of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education on Monday approved hiring Darrell McDowell for the position of principal at North Rowan Middle School.

The job was vacated by Vicki Booker. McDowell’s hiring came during a called board meeting.

McDowell currently works as director of English as a Second Language/migrant education and director of extended year programs in the Henderson County Schools.

The Henderson County school system is smaller than the Rowan-Salisbury system, with 21 schools and about 12,500 students, according to the system’s Web site.

McDowell has served as a principal before. From 2003 to 2004, he was principal of Tuxedo Extended Day School. He also served as principal at East Henderson High School from 2000 to 2003.

From 2004 to 2006, McDowell was in charge of teacher evaluations/ initially licensed teacher observations for elementary and middle schools in Henderson County.

He started his career in 1983 as a teacher and coach at Madison-Mayodan High School in the Western Rockingham City Schools.

McDowell graduated from West Henderson High School in 1979 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University in 1983.

Since then McDowell has earned a master’s degree in school administration and an Ed.S. degree in educational leadership from Western Carolina University.

He’s currently nearing completion of an Ed.D. degree in education leadership, also from Western Carolina University.

All board members present voted to approve Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom’s recommendation to hire McDowell. Board member Jim Shuping was absent.

In her recommendation, Grissom said that if McDowell accepts, he’ll assume his responsibilities on Jan. 2, with a two-year contract at a salary based on the state salary schedule and local middle school principal supplement.

Delores Morris, assistant superintendent for human resources, said McDowell indicated he would accept the position if the board approved his hiring.

Board chairman Bryce Beard noted that hiring McDowell was the unanimous recommendation of the search committee made up of school officials, board members, two North Rowan Middle teachers and a parent.

Morris said she wanted to thank the search committee and the interview team for all their work.

Dr. Alan King, assistant superintendent for administration, will continue to fill in at North Middle until McDowell arrives.

During the last school board meeting, Morris announced that King would move his office to the middle school to help keep things running smoothly during the leadership transition.

Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.