BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Three Bradford schools will be headed by new principals, but two of them are not new to the district.
School Superintendent Will Hartley said Ben Hawkins and Raymond Schaefer who were heading Bradford Middle School and Starke Elementary School were interested in working closer to home to spend more time with family.
“Mr. Hawkins lives in Alachua County, and Mr. Schaefer lives in Clay County, so I understand their decision and need to put family first. I appreciate them both for their time and service to our school district as they both had a positive impact during their time with us,” Hartley said.
Crystal Williams, who was hired as Bradford High School’s assistant principal last year, will be taking over at Bradford Middle School. Lauren Morgan, who was originally being transferred from her assistant principal position at Bradford Elementary School to serve as Schaefer’s assistant principal at Starke Elementary has instead been promoted to principal.
Born in California, Williams grew up in Orange Park and Fleming Island. She and her husband now live on a 12.5-acre farm near Starke purchased from his grandmother. She has taught higher math in middle and high school, been an instructional coach and testing coordinator, as well as an assistant principal in Marion and Bradford counties.
Morgan’s 23 years in education include the past three years she has been assistant principal at Southside and Bradford elementary schools. Prior to that she taught fourth- and sixth-graders in Alachua, Clay and Putnam counties. A lover of travel and animals, she has a dog and five cats.
The third new principal is at Brooker Community School, where the charter school board announced Thomas Lashley will be replacing Felicia Moss. Lashley grew up in Live Oak. He was a pre-med undergrad student who has since obtained a doctorate degree in educational leadership and policy. He taught in four counties, including Columbia where he was also an elementary school principal for 10 years. He served as superintendent of schools in Lafayette County as well as in the state of Montana. According to the school, he enjoys reading, writing, hunting and fishing and is looking forward to becoming a member of the Brooker community.
Rob Charles has been promoted to assistant principal at Bradford Middle School after serving in multiple administrative roles for the district, including coordinator of attendance, compliance and student recovery and principal of alternative education. Charles studied economics and went on to obtain a doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Charles will work with Williams, while Nicole Stafford steps into Williams’ former assistant principal position at the high school. For the past two years she has been working with BHS Principal Chris Coffey as testing coordinator and multi-tiered system support coordinator. Raised in Bradford a graduate of BHS, her teaching career began in Brooker 14 years ago, and she has taught in Lawtey and at BMS, where she also mentored new teachers. Her family includes her husband and 17-year-old senior, and they recently purchased a 60-acre cattle farm.
Karen Brugh will be assistant principal at Bradford Elementary School, working with Principal Cassie Melvin. She is being transferred from the assistant principal position at the middle school, where she was also named Teacher of the Year while she taught English and mentored other teachers. Brugh taught elementary school in Clay County for 14 years before beginning at Southside in 2015. She earned a master’s degree at Liberty University. She is also a married mother of four who serves as CEO and co-owner of the family electric contracting business.
Hartley said the district is currently interviewing candidates for the assistant principal position at Starke Elementary, so the remaining slate of administrative roles may not be complete. For now, there has been little additional change. Terri O’Quinn remains principal at Lawtey Elementary. Brad Bishop and Keith Kirby are still leading North Florida Technical College. Jeannie O’Steen is coordinator at the Rainbow Center.
Other district-level positions remain unchanged, among them Karen Clarke as assistant superintendent, Jeff Edison as operations and safety director, Shannon Rodriguez as finance director, Blake Dicks as director of food and nutrition, Aimee Ferguson as director of human resources and Louette Smith as transportation supervisor.
