An Edgecombe County principal has been chosen to lead Pitt County Schools Early College High School and new leaders will take over at Grifton School and Pitt County Schools Virtual Academy in July.
Leshaun Jenkins, principal of Patillo Middle School in Tarboro, will become principal of the Early College High School beginning in July, Deputy Superintendent Steve Lassiter announced May 14.
He will succeed Bill Frazier, who has served as interim principal since founding Principal Wynn Whittington resigned earlier this spring to accept an assistant superintendent position in Jones County.
“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Jenkins to Pitt County Schools and look forward to his leadership in this capacity,” Lassiter said in a statement. “His successful career track has been intentional to prepare for this particular position, and we are confident his vision and innovative approach will enable PCS Early College High School to enjoy remarkable growth on what already is a firm foundation.”
Since its launch in 2015 on the campus of Pitt Community College, ECHS has grown to nearly 300 students who are enrolled in high school and community college courses.
Jenkins has worked in Edgecombe schools since 2001, beginning as a history teacher at Tarboro High School, where he later became assistant principal. He also served as assistant principal at Princeville Elementary and Phillips Middle schools. A three-time Teacher of the Year award recipient at Tarboro High, he also coached of boy’s basketball and tennis as well as boy’s and girl’s soccer.
“I am truly grateful to ECPS for the honor and privilege to have served in a plethora of ways over the course of the past 23 years,” Jenkins said in a statement. “I am even more excited to make this transition to the Pitt County Schools system. … I am looking forward to meeting the staff, connecting with students, and strengthening our purposeful partnerships with PCC and other community stakeholders to ensure continued academic excellence and holistic development for all.”
Jenkins has bachelor’s degrees in history and political science from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in school administration from North Carolina State University. He earned a certificate in Educating Global Citizens from Harvard University in 2020 and was part of Haiti Teacher Fellows program hosted by the UNC-Duke Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies in 2020-21.
Superintendent Ethan Lenker on May 8 announced the new appointments in Grifton and the virtual academy. Changes which will take place there and at Elmhurst Elementary in Greenville on July 1.
Megan Newman, who has served as principal at Grifton School since 2021, will take over the top role at Elmhurst Elementary School, replacing Daniale Stancil. Grifton’s current assistant principal, Yolanda Brickhouse, will be promoted to the principal’s position, while Stancil will become principal of PCS Virtual Academy.
The three educators have a combined total of 55 years of experience within the school district, including 31 in full-time administrative roles.
Brickhouse, who began her career as an exceptional children’s teacher at E.B. Aycock Middle School, served in assistant principal roles at Aycock and South Central High School before moving to Grifton School. She also was lead administrator at PCS Virtual Academy. In 2021-22, she was named the school district’s Assistant Principal of the Year.
Brickhouse has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education and a master’s in school administration, all from East Carolina University.
Newman, who began her teaching career at Grifton School, served in assistant principal roles at Wintergreen and Stokes School, where she later became principal. She also served as coordinator of the PCS Health Sciences Academy.
Newman graduated from ECU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education and a master’s in school administration.
Stancil began her career as a teacher at Falkland Elementary School and later served in assistant principal roles at J.H. Rose, Eastern, South Central and Hope Middle schools.
She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s in school administration and an educational specialist degree in administration and supervision, all from ECU.
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